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Remembering Those Who Made The Ultimate Sacrifice
(June 6, 2011) | 
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BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan (6/2/2011) – The sergeant's voice cracks
as he reads the names from the paper in front of him. His emotions can
almost be heard beyond the lump in his throat as he recites name after
name. He speaks the last one, pauses a moment, and makes his way to the
bell behind him. He lifts the hammer, gently taps the bell, stands for a
moment of silent remembrance and returns to his seat. The sound of the
bell cuts through the silence and resonates throughout the minds of the
audience attending the ceremony. |
A formation of service members comes to the position of attention to render honors at a Memorial Day ceremony, Camp Vance, May 30,
2011. The ceremony was held to honor the fallen service members assigned to Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force - Afghanistan. |
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Service members and civilians assigned to Combined Joint Special
Operations Task Force – Afghanistan attended a Memorial Day ceremony
held at Camp Vance, May 30.
The ceremony was attended by 25 VIPs,
230 service members in formation and 20 civilian and service member
bystanders. Seven service members were in attendance as the rifle team
that delivered the 21-gun salute.
The ceremony began with the
telling of the CJSOTF-A history. With the arrival of a Special
operations forces unit to Afghanistan in late 2001, multiple rotations
of various SOF units have made their way to and from the country. The
combination of two tasks forces units created CJSOTF-A in early 2002.
3rd, 7th and 20th Special Forces Group took turns assuming the
responsibility of commanding the task force. In 2009, the deployment
rotation was realigned and 3rd SFG was given complete responsibility of
CJSOTF-A.
Capt. Jerry Squires, chaplain, CJSOTF-A, asked the
audience to bow their heads and join him in praying for the fallen
service members, their families and the service members who stood in the
formation.
“Today we remember those who made the ultimate
sacrifice for the freedoms we enjoy,” said Squires. “Today we also
remember the families of our fallen. We ask for gracious blessings to
fill their homes and comforting presence with all who mourn.”
Five soldiers from the 1st Cavalry Band had the honor of playing the
national anthems of the countries that had service members who lost
their lives. They began with the national anthem of the Islamic Republic
of Afghanistan and continued with the Commonwealth of Australia, Canada,
the French Republic and the United States of America.
Brig. Gen.
Scott Miller, commander, Combined Forces Special Operations Component
Command–Afghanistan, took a moment to speak to the audience.
“I
stand here on Memorial Day, and I look over to the men to my right, who
have the duty of reading the names of our fallen, and not just our U.S.
fallen, but our coalition, our partnered forces,” said Miller. “When I
look at this wall... I think of the men and women, in the prime of their
lives, who have lost their lives; they've given it all up. I also think
about their families they have left behind, whether it be spouses,
parents, grandparents or children, and as importantly, their friends.”
Capt. Rinaldo Manago, commander, Base Defense Operations Center,
introduced the service members who represented each service and nation
of the fallen heroes who were honored at the memorial ceremony.
Following each segment of names, the service's representative stepped to
the bell and struck it with a hammer.
“Reading the names of those
killed in the service of their nation is a symbol and a powerful way to
remember those that gave all,” said Manago. “Name reading is a very
symbolic and highly meaningful act.”
Col. Mark Schwartz,
commander, and Command Sgt. Maj. Richard Meffert, both of CJSOTF-A,
placed a memorial wreath at the base of the stone memorial, which holds
all the names of the fallen service members. It features 11 flagpoles,
seven of which are used to display the flags of the United States,
Government of Afghanistan, Canada, Jordan, Australia, France and the
United Arab Emirates. The large white-stone memorial, placed in front of
the flag poles and headed with the words, “In memory of our fallen
heroes,” is etched with the names of the fallen service members.
The memorial was recently refurbished with the addition of marble stone
and regimental crests representing each of the CJSOTF-A SOF elements, to
include the Air Force, Marines and Navy. An oversized replica of the
CJSOTF-A arrowhead insignia rests before the memorial which bears the
heroes' names.
The ceremony came to a close with a 21-gun salute
given by the color guard. Capt. Squires gave a closing benediction and
the band then played taps. The occasional clearing of a throat and
frequent sniffles could be heard between the notes of the song used to
indicate closure. | |
Article and photo by Army Sgt. Lizette Hart
19th Public Affairs Detachment
Copyright 2011
Provided
through DVIDS
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