- Welcome to the U.S. Army Special Operations Command
Fallen Soldier Memorial Ceremony.
A day of remembrance to honor
those extraordinary special operations soldiers
who over the past years gave their lives
in courageous service to our nation.
The men and women of Army Special Operations
are vital to the nation and with our unique capabilities
we are globally postured and ready to compete, deter,
and win against adversaries across a full range
of military operations anytime and anywhere.
But today, we're fighting against an invisible
and pervasive enemy known as COVID-19 or the coronavirus.
This pandemic has made the world adjust their lives
in ways unimaginable.
USASOC is not exempt.
Due to this pandemic and the need for social distancing,
we had to alter or traditional Gold Star Memorial Ceremony,
ensuring the safety of everyone participating.
Despite what's going on in the world,
USASOC feels the overwhelming need to honor our fallen
and pay respect to their families.
We will now be conducting today's ceremony,
absent of an audience,
but with the unequivocal appreciation
of a grateful nation, command team, and teammates.
Today, 16 special operation soldiers
from Operation Freedom Sentinel in Afghanistan
and three soldiers from Operation Inherent Resolve
who made the ultimate sacrifice will
be recognized, honored, and remembered.
Let us pray.
Our heavenly Father, today is bittersweet.
It's the day we celebrate the legacy
of individuals who've set the example with their willingness
to put others before their own needs
and yet it is also a day we mourn the loss of our comrades.
And so, God, we come before you today with happy
and yet heavy hearts.
We pray each family member and friend will feel
the gratitude and the love we share for them
as they view this video.
There are no big crowds here and there will be no parties
after this event, but there is respect of this sacred ground
and love for every name represented here today.
And so, Lord, encourage all of us here participating
and all of those who will view this,
to maintain grateful hearts
by remembering the sacrificial spirits
of our friends.
May our time be meaningful, healing, and honoring
as we recognize these brave souls.
Thank you Father for being our help each and every day
for it's in the name of the Father, Son,
and Holy Spirit I pray, Amen.
- On behalf of the 35,000 men and women
of Army's Special Operations,
thank you for joining us as we pause to honor
the valiant and selfless sacrifice of our fallen warriors.
On Memorial Day, we're inspired to remember all
of those who've gone before us.
Those who've made a difference for us all
and those whose lives and legacies
we will do anything to live up to.
Those to whom we pledge, we will never let you down.
To our most cherished Gold Star families,
thank you for allowing us to be a small part
of honoring your loved one.
The enormity of your loss cannot be overstated.
Your grace and poise inspire us every day.
No one has given more for our freedom
or sacrificed more for our country
than you and your loved ones.
For what you will forever mean to our nation,
we are grateful.
We think of you and we are reminded of how strong
and how resilient America is.
We will never forget your loss
and we will continue to serve each and every day
in honor of your loved one's memory.
This is our sacred pledge to you.
Our assurance to you is that we remain forever grateful
to our fallen heroes.
Their bravery and steel determination
in the face of our nation's sworn enemies symbolizes
the strength of our American values and they represent
the absolute best our nation has to offer.
We will never forget their extraordinary patriotism
and courage under fire.
We will never forget who the were
or what they lived for.
We will never forget how they willingly sacrificed
their lives to accomplish a noble mission
so that others could live on.
We lost 19 more irreplaceable sons, husbands, fathers,
and brothers in arms this year.
We miss them.
Our respect for their deeds of courage continue to grow
and we grieve them.
It is with great sadness and tremendous humility
that we honor these heroes for the first time
this Memorial Day.
The names of these heroes will be enshrined on our wall
when we can honor their beloved families
in person next year.
Each of these remarkable American warriors join a legacy
of incomparable valor and unparalleled service.
Across the globe, the men and women
of Army Special Operations are now guided
by their example of courage, honor, integrity, and service.
We will never forget.
On this hallowed ground, our most sacred place,
we pause to remember the lives
of the 1,241 we have lost over time.
We draw strength and inspiration from their grit,
tenacity, and indomitable spirit.
We are reminded by their selflessness
that America is a beacon of hope
for our allies and partners to inspire others
towards what they could be and in their names,
the names of our fallen, we will fight tirelessly
to shine the light of liberty to those who live
under the shadow of oppression.
They are our legends.
We will tell their stories and we will never forget.
This Memorial Day, America's fighting a war against
an unseen enemy, a pandemic coronavirus
that challenges our individual strength
and targets our most vulnerable.
May we model the bravery
of our fallen warriors under hardship,
have their courage in crisis,
and continue to protect our nation
without fear, without fail, and without equal.
When this fight is over, may we emerge stronger
and more resilient and may we meet again here, together,
to remember, we will never forget.
No heroic sacrifice is made in vain.
While we dedicate today to their memory,
we live every day inspired by their love of duty,
honor, and our great country.
They are American treasures,
asleep on the nation's heart
and entombed in the nation's love.
We will never forget.
May they rest in peace, (speaking foreign language).
- [Narrator] The fallen hero for the United States Army
Special Operations Command
is Master Sergeant Jonathan J. Dunbar.
(bell tolling)
- [Narrator] The fallen heroes
from the First Special Forces Command
are Chief Warrant Officer 2 Jonathan Robert Farmer,
(bell tolling)
Sergeant first Class, Joshua Zachary Beale,
(bell tolling)
Sergeant First Class Reymund Rarogal Transfiguracion,
(bell tolling)
Sergeant First Class Will Dustin Lindsay,
(bell tolling)
Master Sergeant Micheal Bernard Riley,
(bell tolling)
Sergeant Major James Gregory Sartor,
(bell tolling)
Master Sergeant Luis Filipe Deleon-Figueroa,
(bell tolling)
Master Sergeant Jose Juan Gonzalez,
(bell tolling)
Sergeant First Class Dustin Bruce Ard,
(bell tolling)
Sergeant First Class Jeremy Wayne Griffin,
(bell tolling)
Sergeant First Class Michael James Goble,
(bell tolling)
Sergeant First Class Javier Jaguar Gutierrez,
(bell tolling)
Sergeant First Class Antonio Ray Rodriguez.
(bell tolling)
- [Narrator] The fallen hero from United States Army
Special Operations Aviation Command
is Chief Warrant Officer 3 Taylor James Galvin.
(bell tolling)
- [Narrator] The fallen heroes from the 75th Ranger Regiment
are Sergeant Cameron Alexander Meddock,
(bell tolling)
Sergeant Leandro Antonio Sleeper Jasso,
(bell tolling)
Sergeant First Class Christopher Andrew Celiz,
(bell tolling)
Major Brent Russell Taylor. (bell tolling)
("Taps" by Daniel Butterfield)