Photo By Chief Petty Officer Mary Popejoy | Rear Adm. James Hart, Combined Joint Task Force commander, looks at the Leadership...... read more read more
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By Petty Officer 1st Class Mary Popejoy
Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa Public Affairs
CAMP LEMONIER, Djibouti – Soldiers from Delta Company 1/294th Infantry Light along with personnel from Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa came together, Nov. 23, to commemorate the lives, contributions and differences that were made within their company, the U.S. and CJTF-HOA by Sgt. Gregory Fejeran and Sgt.Chris Fernandez, who lost their lives in a vehicle accident in March 2007.
During the Memorial Service, Fejeran and Fernandez were posthumously awarded the Leadership Recognition Award, a first-ever for CJTF-HOA.
"During the Memorial Service last March, we learned many important things about the two individuals we honor here today," said Rear Adm. James Hart, CJTF-HOA commander. "One was charismatic; the other was the life of his unit. One was the epitome of devotion to duty; the other put his unit, service and country before himself.
These are the selfless acts that I believe embodies leadership and even better the leader. This is the type of leadership we expect from our E-1 to E-4 personnel at CJTF-HOA and the type of leadership we expect to see from the recipients of this award," said Hart.
On hand for the unveiling of the Leadership Recognition Award Plaque was Army Lt. Col. George Charfauros, Guam National Guard commander, who spoke about freedom and how we can best honor their memory.
"We the citizens of a nation committed to the ideals of a document called the Constitution are forever in the debt of all those who died in service of our nation and freedom," said Charfauros. "Our brothers, Greg and Chris, can be counted amongst those we owe our thanks to. We can pay them back by not only living our lives as free men, but actually choosing to do so. Our mere acts and decisions to remain and choose to be free ensures their lives and countless and others were not taken in vain. Greg and Chris shall forever be remembered not only through this physical memorial, but in our lives forever," he said.
For Army 2nd Lt. Joseph Goden, the ceremony was an opportunity to remember two great men who paid the ultimate sacrifice for freedom.
"It's an honor to be here with Delta Company to honor the lives of Chris and Greg because I personally knew them and worked with them on two separate occasions," said Goden. "They are gone, but not forgotten and we'll always remember all of the great things they did in the name of freedom. It takes a lot to defend our freedom and sometimes it comes with a price unfortunately, which is why having a physical memorial like this for fallen comrades is a constant reminder of their service to this great nation."
According to Army Spc. Markus Manabat, machine gunner for Delta Company 1/294 Inf. Light, the ceremony was an opportunity to re-visit friendships that were cut short.
"It was nice to remember them again and all of the great times we had," said Manabat. "They were great friends and Soldiers and it's nice that we can keep their memory alive in such a way."
At the end of the ceremony, Army Spc. Chris Candaso led a four-person band in playing "Hearts and Minds" and then "TAPS" was played in honor of Fejeran and Fernandez.
A recognition plaque is currently displayed inside Camp Lemonier's Bob Hope Dining Facility.
| Date Taken: | 11.24.2007 |
| Date Posted: | 11.28.2007 07:12 |
| Story ID: | 14248 |
| Location: | CAMP LEMONNIER, DJ |
| Web Views: | 187 |
| Downloads: | 118 |
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