Servicemen celebrate freedom, remember fallen at Afghanistan Veterans' Day ceremony

Photo By Staff Sgt. Timothy Sander | FORWARD OPERATING BASE SALERNO, Afghanistan -- Soldiers look at a photo of United States Marines carrying a flag draped coffin during a Veterans' Day ceremony in the Forward Operating Base Salerno chapel. "Someone in that photo took action. He may never see the result of his action, but if he had taken no action, there would be no result," said Command Sgt. Maj. Victor Rivera, the ceremony's key speaker.  

KHOST, AFGHANISTAN

11.11.2006

Story by Staff Sgt. Timothy Sander 

345th Public Affairs Detachment

by Sgt. Tim Sander
345th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

FORWARD OPERATING BASE SALERNO, Afghanistan – Thousands of miles from their homes, in a country where the danger is as real as the bullets in their rifles, American servicemembers (and even a trio of French officers) gathered in a small wooden chapel on a bleak, rainy Veterans' Day on base to honor U.S. vets and fallen comrades.

Maj. Charles Reynolds, Regional Command East chaplain, kicked off the ceremony by reading an e-mail he received from a friend he met on his flight home for leave.

"God bless you all for not only risking your everything for the freedom of those you will never meet, but for also reminding those you defend how precious our way of life is," said the letter from Timothy Neal, assistant director of athletics for Sports Medicine at Syracuse University.

"I have much to be thankful for and many people to be thankful to, people I have had the honor to meet. They are not the many famous athletes I have met or worked with, they are... my uncles or other veterans I have met during my life. Please pass along a heartfelt 'thank you' to everyone on Veterans' Day from a grateful American," read the chaplain.

After Reynolds left the podium the servicemembers rose to their feet as the Salerno Catholic Choir began singing our nations anthem, "The Star Spangled Banner."

At the close of the song everyone remained standing for a series of prayers for the servicemembers, their families and the United States before the choir once again delighted the audience with their rendition of "God Bless the U.S.A." During the melody, most of the people in attendance began to chime in and sing along with the choir for a song that has become a staple at most patriotic ceremonies.

The key speaker, Command Sgt. Maj. Victor Rivera, command sergeant major for 4th Battalion, 25th Field Artillery Regiment, approached the podium.

"Since 14 June 1775, veterans have defended freedom and are still fighting on behalf of the American people for various reasons," the 28-year veteran began. "The veterans have courageously fought our country's wars and served honorably in peace for two centuries."

At one point during his speech, Rivera held up a large framed photo of a wheelchair-bound man standing and saluting an American flag amongst a sea of other people who stayed in their seats. "It is the veteran who salutes the flag and who serves under the flag," he said.

After a few more moments, he flipped the photo around and showed the troops a photo of a flag draped coffin being carried by U.S. Marines. "Someone in that photo took action," said Rivera. "He may never see the result of his action, but if he had taken no action, there would be no result."

To close his speech and wrap up the ceremony Rivera questioned the crowd before him. "I am a proud veteran, are you?" he asked. "God bless you all, thank you for serving our country."

• Date Taken: 11.11.2006
• Date Posted: 11.13.2006 15:54
• Story ID: 8264
• Location: KHOST, AF