III Armored Corps and Fort Cavazos leadership honor Memorial Day 2023 alongside community leaders

Photo By Lt. Col. Tania Donovan | Lt. Gen. Sean Bernabe, III Armored Corps Commanding General, serves as the guest speaker at the Killeen Memorial Day Ceremony held at the Killeen Civic Center on May 29, 2023.  

KILLEEN , TX, UNITED STATES

05.29.2023

Story by Capt. Lydia LaRue 

III Armored Corps

KILLEEN, Texas – The Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery in Killeen opened on January 4, 2006, and is the final resting place for over 10,686 veterans. This includes more than 1,200 veterans of World War II, 2,300 veterans of Korea, 6,600 Vietnam veterans, and over 1,000 veterans of the Gulf War, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Each year, on the last Monday in May, III Armored Corps and Fort Cavazos leadership take the time to honor these veterans, and countless others, who gave their last full measure of devotion in service to their country. Memorial Day is not a celebration but a solemn day to reflect on veterans and military personnel who are deceased.
Memorial Day, previously known as Decoration Day, began in the early 1860s to honor Civil War veterans. It now recognizes all service members and veterans who died in service to the United States during peace and war and includes the 12 major wars the United States has fought, as well as other conflicts.
Lt. Gen. Sean Bernabe, III Armored Corps Commanding General, and community leaders from the Central Texas area gathered at the Killeen Civic Center on Monday, May 29, 2023, to pay their respects on this solemn holiday.
“But today, I speak to you not as an American Soldier, but as a grateful American citizen,” said Lt. Gen. Bernabe, “Grateful for the service and the sacrifice of all Servicemembers and their Family members. Let us here present today never forget the high cost of freedom. Let us never take for granted their service.”
Soldiers of the 1st Cavalry Division executed a 21-Gun Salute. Dating back to 1810, this somber tradition is the highest honor to be rendered to a fallen Servicemember. On Memorial Day, it recognizes all those who died in service to our nation.
“As we gather and pause today as a community to reflect on those Servicemembers who bravely and unselfishly gave the ultimate sacrifice, who served with honor and pride to defend the Constitution of the United States of America, willing in the face of danger, they can rest knowing today that they will never be forgotten,” said Killeen Mayor Debbie Nash-King.
Mayor Michael Blomquist of Harker Heights, alongside other Bell County leaders, proclaimed Monday, May 29, 2023, as Memorial Day to remember and honor our fallen heroes.
“Whereas the city of Harker Heights remembers the valiant men and women of the Armed Forces who have given everything for this great country, now therefore, I, Michael D. Blomquist, Mayor of the City of Harker Heights, Texas, do hereby proclaim May 29, 2023 as Memorial Day in the City of Harker Heights and urge all citizens to join us in remembering our fallen and the families that they have left behind,” said Mayor Blomquist.
Memorial Day serves as a reminder to pause, reflect, and pay respects to the great sacrifice that many have made in order secure and defend the freedom and sovereignty of the United States of America.

• Date Taken: 05.29.2023
• Date Posted: 05.31.2023 13:55
• Story ID: 445771
• Location: KILLEEN , TX, US