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BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AFGHANISTAN (May 29, 2016) - The
Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines of U.S. Forces –
Afghanistan, their coalition partners and Department of
Defense civilians and contractors gathered here today
to observe Memorial
Day and to honor, respect,
and remember the men and women who gave their lives in
service to our nation.
U.S. Army Maj. Jeffrey Bailey,
USFOR-A command chaplain, thanked everyone for attending and
delivered the invocation.
Bailey took the opportunity
to publically acknowledge the sacrifices of those who gave
their lives defending freedom both here in Afghanistan and
since the inception of the U.S. Military.
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BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AFGHANISTAN (May 30,2016) – U.S. Army Chaplain
(Maj.) Jeffrey Bailey, U.S. Forces Afghanistan command chaplain,
gave the invocation and introduction to the command's Memorial Day
observance. He spoke of the opportunity to publicly acknowledge the
sacrifices of those who gave their lives defending freedom both here
in Afghanistan and since the beginnings of the U.S. military. (Photo
by Bob Harrison, U.S. Forces Afghanistan Public Affairs)
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“Conducting
this event here in Afghanistan reminds us once again of why
we are serving, the legacy to which we belong, and the cost
associated with such service, whereby, each service member
commits to serve and defend with all their might and
ability, up to and including...their life.”
Bailey said
the importance of this event was “to honor those who've died
in service and commit to the same selfless service and
remembrance of the heroes in whose footsteps we follow.”
Following the U.S. national anthem, Bailey introduced a
special, short, video prelude to the observance, a speech by
former U.S. president Ronald Reagan, delivered in 1964. The senior officers and the senior enlisted advisors of
the U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Navy and U.S. Air
Force, currently serving here at BAF, each presented a
memorial wreath on behalf of
their respective military service to honor all who gave
their lives defending our nation.
U.S. Army Command
Sgt. Maj. Charles W. Albertson, USFOR-A senior enlisted
advisor, spoke to the gathering. He began by describing the
honor he felt to have been asked to speak, and how
profoundly important is was to say the right things to honor
our fallen comrades.
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BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AFGHANISTAN (May 30,2016) – U.S. Army Maj. Gen.
Jeffery L. Bannister, (right), U.S. Forces Afghanistan deputy
command general - support, and U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Charles
W. Albertson, senior enlisted advisor – support, render honors
during the playing of the national anthem during the command's
Memorial Day observance (Photo by Bob Harrison, U.S. Forces
Afghanistan Public Affairs)
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“This Global War on Terror has
defined my career and the experiences I've had convinced me
to accept [to speak] on behalf of those that have made the
ultimate sacrifice and no longer have the opportunity to
speak for themselves.”
Albertson has a long and
distinguished career, spanning 24 years, and includes 15
combat tours, totaling 52 months deployed to either
Afghanistan or Iraq that included two citations for valor.
He reminded us all of the history of
Memorial
Day, including the first
observation in 1868, then-called Decoration
Day, to honor the fallen of
the American Civil War.
Albertson continued his
remarks summarizing our commitment to current military
engagements around the world.
“In the battle we are
currently fighting, there are countless examples of the
continued sacrifice of our nation's sons and daughters and
how they have volunteered to pick up arms and stand against
our enemies.
“Including the Civil War,” he continued,
“over 1,354,000 service members have died in service to the
nation.”
He then called attention to the scrolling
names that had been on video display at the front of the
room, which listed the 3, 516 U.S. and coalition service
members who gave their lives in service to their nations and
in support of the people of Afghanistan.
After
Albertson's remarks, Chaplain Bailey asked all in attendance
to observe a moment of silence to honor our fallen, while U.
S. Army Spc. Joseph Faust, 10th Mountain Division, played a
stirring rendition of taps in the background.
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BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AFGHANISTAN (May 30,2016) – U.S. Army Spc.
Joseph Faust, 10th Mountain Divison, sounded a stirring rendition of
Taps to lead into a moment of silence during the U.S. Forces
Afghanistan Memorial Day observance held here today. (Photo by Bob
Harrison, U.S. Forces Afghanistan Public Affairs)
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U.S.
Air Force Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Christian Biscotti, 455th Air
Expeditionary Wing chaplain, concluded the observance with a
benediction, after which a brief musical postlude played.
At the conclusion of the observance, Bailey invited all
the guests to gather in fellowship.
Afterward, U.S.
Army Command Sgt. Maj. Matthew Boehme, Task Force Explosive
Ordinance Division said, “The ceremony was very emotional
for me. I have lost several friends over here. The speech
the sergeant major made was very moving. So, it was a great
ceremony.”
U. S. Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer
Shawn Vick, remarked that the ceremony was, “a reminder of
those who came here to do what we are doing, but did not
make it home. It was my pleasure to be here paying homage,
giving back.”
Mary Cowen, a Department of Defense
Expeditionary Workforce Civilian, from Los Angeles, Calif,
said, “I am glad I could be here to pause and remember those
who have died in our militaries.”
Each year, the
United States observes Memorial
Day on the last Monday
of May. A one-hundred and forty-six year tradition to
remember the greatest American heroes.
The men and
women currently serving in U.S. Forces Afghanistan are the
latest in a long and distinguished line of American
citizens, who today,
demonstrate that they will never forget the sacrifices made
to defend our nation and to defend freedom around the world.
By (Courtesy of U.S. Forces Afghanistan)
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2016
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