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FORT CARSON, Colo. (5/24/2012) – Hundreds of somber faces gazed
at the names, newly chiseled into the slate rock memorial before
them, personal memories of the fallen playing out behind many of
their eyes.
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Sgt. Brian Gutierrez, infantryman, Company D, 1st Battalion, 67th
Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division,
salutes his fallen comrades during a warrior memorial ceremony at
the Mountain Post Global War on Terrorism Fallen Soldiers' Memorial,
May 24, 2012. Families, friends, and soldiers of Fort Carson
remembered nine soldiers who had lost their lives serving in
Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. U.S. Army
photo by Staff Sgt. Andrew Porch, 2nd BCT PAO, 4th Inf. Div.
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Soldiers, family members, veterans and friends gathered to honor the
lives of nine Fort Carson soldiers, who made the ultimate sacrifice
for their country, at the Mountain Post Warrior Memorial Ceremony,
May 24.
During the ceremony, those in attendance honored the
lives of Staff Sgt. Lex Lewis, Master Sgt.
Charles Price, Capt. Drew Russell, Capt. Joshua Lawrence, Spc.
Christopher Mendonca, Staff Sgt. Allen McKenna, Staff Sgt. Daniel
Brown, Pfc. Eric Soufrine and Sgt. Ken Hermogino, all of whom gave
their lives during the past year while deployed to Afghanistan in
support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Maj. Gen. Joseph
Anderson, commanding general, 4th Infantry Division and Fort Carson,
asked the assembled soldiers, families and community members to
carry on the legacy of the fallen heroes. |
“These soldiers, like all soldiers in service to our
country, stepped forward and declared that they would fight
for our freedom, the well being of their fellow countrymen
and the oppressed people of foreign lands,” said Anderson
“Their work and sacrifice will never be forgotten.”
Anderson recognized the sacrifices and loss endured by the
loved ones of the fallen, and commended the strength
displayed by the Gold Star Families.
“As you know,
words cannot express the sorrow that we have for each of you
due to the loss of your loved one,” Anderson told the family
members in attendance. “Today, we honor their sacrifice and
pray for your comfort and strength as you make your way
ahead in life.
“No piece of paper or token can
adequately explain our shared sorrow for the loss of these
American heroes and our comrades,” he said. “These monuments
of stone before you are simple, humble and a pale reflection
of our deep and genuine gratitude for your loved ones
service and sacrifice. They are a reminder to all of us, and
to those who will follow, of the cost of freedom.”
Following his address, Anderson and Command Sgt. Maj. Ralph
Delosa, senior enlisted leader, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th
Inf. Div., laid a wreath at the foot of the memorial. A
Soldier from each of the fallen heroes' units paid formal
honors, rendering a salute to their comrades.
The
soldiers honored during the ceremony set a great example for
those they left behind, said Staff Sgt. John Hammill,
infantryman, Company D, 1st Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment,
2nd BCT, 4th Inf. Div.
“Master Sergeant Price would
do anything for his soldiers,” Hammill said of his former
platoon sergeant. “In our line of work, especially in
combat, you don't know if you are going to come back, but he
went out there every day – he was doing it for his family,
he was doing it for his soldiers, to make sure that they
made it back – even if he had to give up his life for that.”
Following the ceremony, the Gold Star Families paid
their respects at the memorial and collected pencil rubbings
of their loved ones' names from the stone surface.
Honoring their fallen comrades is an obligation survivors
owe to the Family and friends left behind, said Sgt. 1st
Class Robert Weible, platoon sergeant, Troop D, 1st
Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd BCT, 4th Inf. Div.
“A ceremony like this makes you proud and sad at the
same time,” said Weible, who represented McKenna during the
ceremony. “I'm honored to be chosen to represent a good
Soldier and leader – to show my support to the family.”
Weible said he believes the memorial will stand as a
testament of heroism for Americans to look to in the future.
“Our younger generation needs to realize these
soldiers didn't die in vain,” he said. “When I get out of
the military, I can come back and show my family the soldier
I served with who died in Kandahar.”
By Army Pfc. Andrew Ingram
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2012
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