Memorial Day. There is an inscription carved into the stone memorial at the Omaha Beach Cemetery in France which sums up our purpose for Memorial Day. It simply reads:
"To these we owe the highest resolve, that the cause for which they died, shall live."
Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service. There are many stories as to its actual beginnings, with over two dozen cities and towns laying claim to being the birthplace of Memorial Day.
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There's a small bulletin board just down the hall from my deployed office that has a simple sign above it that reads, "Why We Fight."
Placed on the bulletin board are a collection of miscellaneous items put up with mismatched push-pins. One item is a desert-colored U.S. flag patch. The patch is normally worn on a desert-colored flight suit by aircrew members. In my deployed wing, there are hundreds of aircrew members who carry a similar patch when they fly on combat missions over areas like Afghanistan and Iraq.
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This photo feature highlights Airmen worldwide paying their respects to those who have died in service of their country honoring their heroism, courage and ultimate sacrifice.
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This Memorial Day in Iraq, I have shed many tears for a Soldier I never met.
I was asked to videotape a memorial service for an Army major killed in action May 24 when an improvised explosive device pierced his Mine Resistant-Ambush Protected vehicle near Numaniyah in southern Iraq.
The memorial service started at 9:45 a.m. May 27 at Memorial Hall on COB Adder.
The hall was hot and sweaty. Seats were set for 560 people and it was already half-full as Soldiers waited for the 10:15 start time.
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A memorial ceremony was held globally May 26 by tactical air control party Airmen to honor a fallen comrade.
The ceremony was held precisely at 9:11 a.m. Central Standard Time, to honor Senior Airman Bradley Smith who is being memorialized on the TACP Memorial at Hurlburt Field, Fla.
"It's most important that when we lose someone in combat, we take the time to honor them and today Brad Smith's name is memorialized on the TACP Memorial at Hurlburt Field," said Col. Jeffrey Staha, the 368th Expeditionary Air Support Operations Group commander, deployed from Fort Hood, Texas. "More than anything is remembering the sacrifice, which this young man gave on the battle field that day and for this force to remember, so he's never forgotten."
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Coalition airpower integrated with ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations May 28, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.
Air Operations in Afghanistan
Close-Air Support
Chahar Bagh
Coalition operators provided armed overwatch for friendly forces. The operators observed enemy forces who posed a threat to friendly forces and released a missile to eliminate that threat. The action was determined successful by ground controllers when enemy fire ceased.
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The Air Force's top uniformed officer urged the integration of energy efficiency and conservation into all aspects of the service's mission at the close of the U.S. Air Force Energy Forum here May 28.
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz addressed more than 500 attendees including wing and major command representatives, international partners and industry leaders during the two day event.
"We must embrace the notion that energy efficiency is not a stand-alone priority because it binds together and enables every dimension of our mission," General Schwartz said. "Energy efficiency affords us greater resiliency, which translates to greater capability and versatility."
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Airmen from the 50th Security Forces Squadron here compete during a Security Forces Guardian Challenge obstacle course and race at the nearby U. S. Air Force Academy training area May 18. Guardian Challenge is Air Force Space Command's premier bi-annual competition to determine the best units within the command.
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In a joint Letter to Airmen, the Air Force secretary and chief of staff send their Memorial Day message to Airmen and their families worldwide.
Air Force Secretary Michael Donley and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz ask Airmen to take this time to honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.
"Memorial Day has served as an opportunity to pause and reflect on the sacrifices of the more than one million Soldiers, Marines, Sailors, Airmen, and Coast Guardsmen who have made the ultimate sacrifice to secure our freedoms, they said.
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In a joint Letter to Airmen, the Air Force secretary and chief of staff send their Memorial Day message to Airmen and their families worldwide.
Air Force Secretary Michael Donley and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz ask Airmen to take this time to honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.
"Memorial Day has served as an opportunity to pause and reflect on the sacrifices of the more than one million Soldiers, Marines, Sailors, Airmen, and Coast Guardsmen who have made the ultimate sacrifice to secure our freedoms, they said.
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