BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan - Two memorial services were held here Sept. 9 honoring Staff Sgt. T.J. Lobraico, 755th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, deployed from the 105th SFS, Stewart Air National Guard Base in Newburgh, N.Y.
"The purpose of today's ceremony was to bring closure to the loss and turn the focus to honoring Staff Sgt. T.J. Lobraico's memory by getting back after the mission," said Col. Glen Christensen, 455th Expeditionary Security Forces Group commander. "We certainly understand that the mission must go on, so some will only be able to be there in spirit. To those airmen we will simply say thank you for the support, thoughts and prayers! To those who can make it, I will say, in advance, thank you so much for sharing this challenging time with us. As I told the wing commander, it's an absolutely amazing honor to serve as a part of this family."
Two services were held to ensure all of Lobraico's fellow unit members would be able to attend one of the memorials.
During the second service, the 105th SFS performed a military rite of passage when the members of Lobraico’s unit conducted the Last Roll Call, which is a final tribute paid by military members to their fallen comrade. The Last Roll is called with the conviction held by service members that all unit members will be accounted for, and none will ever be forgotten.
The ceremony concluded with the playing of taps, a benediction and Lobraicos’ comrades passing by his memorial.
Lobraico, a five-year Air Force veteran from New Fairfield, Conn., was killed by small-arms fire when his unit came under attack Sept. 5 in Parwan Province, Afghanistan. He was deployed from the 105th SFS, Stewart Air National Guard Base, Newburgh, New York.
Lobraico's father, Master Sgt. Todd Lobraico, 105 SFS, works as a police officer in Stamford, Conn. His mother, Maj. Linda Rohatsch, serves as a nurse with the 105th Medical Squadron.