Photo By Spc. Karin Leach | Approximately 300 U.S. service members, along with coalition forces' members, gather...... read more read more
BAGHDAD--Red stands for valor and hardiness. White for innocence and purity and the blue is for justice, vigilance and perseverance. These are the meanings behind the flag that many service members have died for.
To honor those men and women, approximately 300 service members gathered at the Al Faw Palace, Camp Victory May 25 for Memorial Day.
"Today we remember and salute our fallen comrades in arms," Brig. Gen. Peter C. Bayer, Jr., chief of staff, MNC-I said. "We grieve for the loss and smile at their memory. We shed tears of sorrow and we hope and vow that they will not be forgotten."
Those in attendance encompassed members of the Iraqi ground forces, Australian army, British army, and U.S. military members. Junior enlisted and commissioned officers sat side by side to pay tribute.
"I'm proud to be following in the footsteps of those Servicemembers who served here before me," Private 1st Class Adam Mooney, Avon Park, Fla., military intelligence analyst, B Company Multi-National Corps-Iraq said.
Bayer urged service members to remember the fallen and strive like they did to uphold the Warrior Ethos-"I will always place the mission first. I will never accept defeat. I will never quit. I will never leave a fallen comrade."
Seven special troops battalion honor guard members fired off seven rifles twice in honor of those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
"It is important to gather for Memorial Day to remember the fallen who came before us to defend others freedom," said Mooney.
When the bag pipe finished blowing the last notes of Amazing Grace there was a slight moment of unplanned silence lingering before the ceremony was ended and service members continued with their day.
| Date Taken: | 05.26.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 05.26.2009 08:34 |
| Story ID: | 34099 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 172 |
| Downloads: | 149 |
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