Photo By Petty Officer 2nd Class Matt Hall | GREAT LAKES, Ill. (September 26, 2024) Musician 2nd Class Tanner Robison, assigned to...... read more read more
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GREAT LAKES, Ill. (Sept. 26, 2024) -- In association with Gold Star Mother's and Family's Day, Naval Station Great Lakes’ (NSGL) Fleet and Family Support Center (FFSC) hosted the ninth annual Bells Across America for fallen service members Sept. 26 at the National Museum of the American Sailor.
Sailors at Navy installations across the country will participate in the Ninth Annual Bells Across America for Fallen Service Members, a ceremony to honor those who died while on active duty. The ceremonies are held in association with Gold Star Mother’s and Family’s Day, which is observed the last Sunday in September. On this day, the military community honors and remembers the sacrifice of our honored dead and the loved ones they left behind.
NSGL Gold Star coordinator Maura Bradshaw asked Gold Star survivors to participate in the event and solicited names from the Great Lakes area to be recognized during the ceremony. The names were collected and read as a bell was tolled, with four bells tolled to honor those names not listed.
“Gold Star Mothers’ And Families’ Day Is observed In The United States on the last Sunday of September each year,” said Bradshaw. “It is a day set aside for all to recognize and honor those who have lost a Son, Daughter, Husband, Wife, Mother, or Father while serving their nation in the United States Armed Forces. It commemorates the contributions, commitment and sacrifices made by our Fallen Comrades and honors their Family members. By hosting this ceremony annually, the Department of the Navy, the Navy Gold Star Program, and the Leadership of Naval Station Great Lakes honor their commitment to remember those lost, as well as to support the Survivors’ connection to their Navy Family. It has been said we die twice, once when our physical body dies and once when those who remain stop saying our name. The Bells Across America Ceremony is one more way we ensure the brave men and women who committed to serve our nation continue to have their names spoken aloud.”
The bell was tolled as the Great Lakes-area service members' names were read aloud to honor their commitment and sacrifice.
"Truly remembering means that after our fallen heroes gave everything for their shipmates and their country, that we must make certain that the families of our fallen and our veterans have access to everything that they earned,” said guest speaker and NSGL Executive Officer Christopher May. “We must always do better. Our work is never done. We have to be there not only when we needed them, but when they need us. Because looking out for one another and the belief that nobody should be left behind shouldn't just be a creed for our a few Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, Coastguardsmen, and Guardians. It should be a creed for all of us."
The primary focus and mission of the Navy Gold Star Program is to provide committed, personal service and commitment to Gold Star families. Bells Across America for Fallen Service Members is one way the Navy recognizes the sacrifices of our fallen and their families.
| Date Taken: | 09.26.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 09.30.2024 12:39 |
| Story ID: | 481952 |
| Location: | GREAT LAKES, ILLINOIS, US |
| Web Views: | 31 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Bells Across America Honors the Fallen at Great Lakes, by PO2 Matt Hall, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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