WEBVTT 00:02.809 --> 00:04.920 Good morning , ladies and gentlemen , 00:04.920 --> 00:07.079 on behalf of the 55th Wing Chapel , I 00:07.090 --> 00:09.257 would like to welcome you to the opera 00:09.257 --> 00:12.079 for Space Memorial Day sermon . I am 00:12.090 --> 00:14.201 Herman first class Amon Pollino and I 00:14.201 --> 00:17.420 will be your narrator . Throughout 00:17.430 --> 00:19.652 today's ceremony , you will be asked to 00:19.652 --> 00:21.597 stand and be seated at appropriate 00:21.597 --> 00:24.000 times . As a reminder , military 00:24.010 --> 00:26.066 members in uniform should render the 00:26.066 --> 00:27.954 proper honors during the national 00:27.954 --> 00:31.549 anthem and tabs military members not in 00:31.559 --> 00:33.790 uniform and veterans are invited to 00:33.799 --> 00:36.150 render a hand salute and our civilian 00:36.159 --> 00:38.381 guests should place the right hand over 00:38.381 --> 00:40.950 their heart . Please stand for the 00:40.959 --> 00:42.959 presentation of colors by offer Air 00:42.959 --> 00:45.126 Force Base , honor guard , the singing 00:45.126 --> 00:46.959 of our national anthem by Master 00:46.959 --> 00:49.439 Sergeant Rachel Wilson from the United 00:49.450 --> 00:51.561 States Air Force Heartland of America 00:51.561 --> 00:53.750 band followed by the invocation given 00:53.759 --> 00:57.439 by chaplain James Pitts . Stand by 00:57.459 --> 00:57.799 color 01:02.919 --> 01:06.180 or or 01:25.580 --> 01:26.120 he said 01:33.269 --> 01:35.709 or say , can you 01:37.800 --> 01:41.519 dawn's early light ? What so proud ? 01:43.919 --> 01:46.730 Hailed at the twilight's last 01:46.739 --> 01:50.610 gleaming whose broad stripes and bright 01:50.620 --> 01:52.300 stars through 01:54.510 --> 01:58.430 fight or the party 01:59.220 --> 02:02.010 arch were so gently 02:02.019 --> 02:03.669 streaming 02:08.000 --> 02:09.000 mom , 02:14.149 --> 02:17.559 right ? That our flag was still 02:17.570 --> 02:21.050 there ? Oh , say does that 02:21.059 --> 02:22.809 star bled 02:27.240 --> 02:27.929 or the 02:49.880 --> 02:51.490 colors colors turn parts . 03:17.240 --> 03:19.129 I'd let you to bow your heads and 03:19.129 --> 03:21.240 observe a moment of silence before we 03:21.240 --> 03:21.000 brag . 03:32.979 --> 03:34.979 Well , Lord , our God , we give you 03:34.979 --> 03:37.035 thanks for your many blessings . You 03:37.035 --> 03:39.035 have given us life and breath , the 03:39.035 --> 03:41.419 knowledge of good and evil . A longing 03:41.429 --> 03:43.596 for peace and justice and the means to 03:43.596 --> 03:46.009 make a difference . Lord , we pause 03:46.020 --> 03:48.131 today to remember those who have died 03:48.131 --> 03:50.298 in the service of our nation . Some on 03:50.298 --> 03:52.600 the fields , seas and skies of battle . 03:52.860 --> 03:54.889 Many more in every climb and place 03:54.899 --> 03:57.669 across the globe , in preparation or in 03:57.679 --> 04:00.500 their support . May these fields and 04:00.509 --> 04:03.009 stones like these remind us of the 04:03.020 --> 04:05.399 value of human life , the great cost of 04:05.410 --> 04:07.770 freedom and peace and the sacrifice 04:07.779 --> 04:10.759 made in hopes of a better future . We 04:10.770 --> 04:12.881 ask your blessing on their memory and 04:12.881 --> 04:14.937 the loved ones left in their absence 04:14.937 --> 04:17.159 that you our great physician would give 04:17.159 --> 04:19.570 comfort , bring healing to the souls 04:19.690 --> 04:21.801 and hope for the time when there will 04:21.801 --> 04:23.634 be no more tears of mourning and 04:23.634 --> 04:25.746 sadness . And for the rest of us that 04:25.746 --> 04:27.912 we may never forget , never lose heart 04:28.079 --> 04:30.190 that our courage and dedication would 04:30.190 --> 04:32.357 not waver in times of trouble . May we 04:32.357 --> 04:34.412 continue to bring honor to these men 04:34.412 --> 04:36.635 and women with the way that we live and 04:36.635 --> 04:38.801 serve ? Help us to treasure peace when 04:38.801 --> 04:40.523 we find it and never shirk the 04:40.523 --> 04:42.635 responsibility to defend it . We pray 04:42.635 --> 04:44.230 in your holy name . Amen . 04:57.359 --> 05:00.679 Please be seated . Thank you all . Air 05:00.690 --> 05:02.820 force . Base . Honor guard master 05:02.829 --> 05:04.773 Sergeant Wilson and Taplin Pitts . 05:05.859 --> 05:08.839 Today we gather to pay tribute to our 05:08.850 --> 05:11.950 fallen heroes . We honor the sacrifice 05:11.959 --> 05:13.792 they have made in service of our 05:13.792 --> 05:16.769 country which has contributed to the 05:16.779 --> 05:18.779 many freedoms we have in the United 05:18.779 --> 05:21.570 States of America we remember so they 05:21.579 --> 05:24.829 will never be forgotten . We will now 05:24.839 --> 05:27.070 hear a poetic reading by Herman Emily 05:27.079 --> 05:29.079 rather and a scripture reading from 05:29.079 --> 05:31.829 Psalm 23 by Herman first class Kanam 05:32.040 --> 05:33.040 Rifler . 05:48.040 --> 05:50.040 The following selection is entitled 05:50.040 --> 05:52.262 Decoration Day and was written by Henry 05:52.262 --> 05:54.950 Wadsworth Longfellow . In 1882 . Sleep . 05:54.959 --> 05:57.160 Comrades sleep and rest on this field 05:57.170 --> 05:59.226 of the grounded arms . No force . No 05:59.226 --> 06:01.769 more molest nor centuries shot alarms . 06:02.200 --> 06:04.367 Ye have slept on the ground before and 06:04.367 --> 06:06.200 have started to your feet at the 06:06.200 --> 06:08.033 canon's sudden roar or the drums 06:08.033 --> 06:10.144 redoubling beat . But in this camp of 06:10.144 --> 06:12.422 death , no sound . Your slumber breaks . 06:12.422 --> 06:14.478 Here is no fevered breath , no wound 06:14.478 --> 06:16.700 that bleeds and aches . All this repose 06:16.700 --> 06:19.500 and peace on trample lies aside the 06:19.510 --> 06:21.566 shouts of battle , cease . It is the 06:21.566 --> 06:25.100 truce of God . Rest comrades rest in 06:25.109 --> 06:27.369 sleep . The thoughts of men shall be as 06:27.380 --> 06:29.820 Sentinels to keep your rest from danger 06:29.829 --> 06:32.630 free your silent tints of green . We 06:32.640 --> 06:34.696 deck with fragrant flowers . Yours . 06:34.696 --> 06:36.918 The suffering has been the memory shall 06:36.918 --> 06:37.918 be ours . 06:44.630 --> 06:47.500 Mhm A reading from Psalm 23 06:49.049 --> 06:51.350 the Lord is my shepherd . I shall not 06:51.359 --> 06:54.290 want . He makes me lie down in green 06:54.299 --> 06:56.850 pastures . He leads me beside the still 06:56.859 --> 07:00.510 waters . He restores my soul . He leads 07:00.519 --> 07:02.575 me in the paths of righteousness for 07:02.575 --> 07:05.260 his name's sake . Yeah . Though I walk 07:05.269 --> 07:07.269 through the valley of the shadow of 07:07.269 --> 07:09.491 death . I will fear no evil for you are 07:09.491 --> 07:12.000 with me , your rod and your staff . 07:12.160 --> 07:15.010 They comfort me . You prepare a table 07:15.019 --> 07:16.908 before me . In the presence of my 07:16.908 --> 07:19.130 enemies . You anoint my head with oil . 07:19.290 --> 07:22.489 My cup runs over surely goodness and 07:22.500 --> 07:24.649 mercy shall follow me all the days of 07:24.660 --> 07:27.500 my life and I will dwell in the house 07:27.510 --> 07:28.929 of the Lord for ever . 07:36.730 --> 07:38.786 Thank you , Herman , Emily , brother 07:38.786 --> 07:40.897 and Herman first class Camden rifle . 07:42.130 --> 07:44.130 As we continue this special time of 07:44.130 --> 07:46.260 remembrance . It is my honor to 07:46.269 --> 07:48.158 introduce our speaker for today . 07:48.200 --> 07:51.209 Please welcome Colonel Patrick Klik , 07:51.220 --> 07:53.559 Commander 55th Mission Support Group . 08:02.279 --> 08:05.390 Ok . Thank you chaplain Pitts . Thank 08:05.399 --> 08:07.732 you , Herman Rat for the poetic reading , 08:07.732 --> 08:09.566 Edmund Riefler for the scripture 08:09.566 --> 08:11.850 reading Edmund Pollino . Thank you for 08:11.859 --> 08:13.803 hosting us here today . And Master 08:13.803 --> 08:15.915 Sergeant Wilson , thank you very much 08:15.915 --> 08:18.081 for another beautiful rendition of our 08:18.081 --> 08:20.137 national anthem on behalf of Colonel 08:20.137 --> 08:19.850 Howard , ladies and gentlemen , 08:19.859 --> 08:21.526 distinguished visitors , wing 08:21.526 --> 08:24.470 association members , veterans , fellow 08:24.480 --> 08:26.480 warhawks , and our O AC teammates . 08:26.480 --> 08:28.702 Thank you very much for joining us here 08:28.702 --> 08:30.924 today . It is an incredible honor to be 08:30.924 --> 08:32.702 with you today at the Fort Cook 08:32.702 --> 08:34.924 Memorial uh cemetery . On this memorial 08:34.924 --> 08:37.349 day . As we gather here , we remember 08:37.359 --> 08:39.248 the sacrifices of those that came 08:39.248 --> 08:41.026 before us and we reflect on the 08:41.026 --> 08:43.137 challenges of today , our adversaries 08:43.140 --> 08:45.029 are constantly working on ways to 08:45.029 --> 08:46.918 supplant our American way of life 08:46.918 --> 08:48.973 simply because they do not like it . 08:49.109 --> 08:51.331 It's days like today to give us all the 08:51.331 --> 08:53.387 reason to pause . And remember those 08:53.387 --> 08:55.669 who enabled our way of life around the 08:55.679 --> 08:57.790 country , many of our fellow citizens 08:57.799 --> 08:59.966 are gathering today to honor those who 08:59.966 --> 09:02.070 had made the ultimate sacrifice much 09:02.080 --> 09:04.191 like our nation has done now for more 09:04.191 --> 09:07.059 than 100 and 50 years . I believe it is 09:07.070 --> 09:08.929 days like today that we have the 09:08.940 --> 09:11.107 opportunity to show our true colors as 09:11.107 --> 09:13.273 a country , one whose belief is deeply 09:13.273 --> 09:16.609 rooted in democracy . One will fight 09:16.619 --> 09:19.059 not only for our freedom , but also the 09:19.070 --> 09:21.640 freedom of our allies and in some cases 09:21.650 --> 09:24.270 die for that cause . The original 09:24.280 --> 09:26.539 Memorial Day dates back to 1865 and the 09:26.549 --> 09:28.849 closing days of the Civil war , many 09:28.859 --> 09:31.960 communities honor those lost by closing 09:31.969 --> 09:33.969 businesses and flying flags at half 09:33.969 --> 09:37.099 staff . In 1868 the day became known as 09:37.109 --> 09:39.220 Memorial Day when Army General John A 09:39.220 --> 09:41.331 Logan , the commander in chief of the 09:41.331 --> 09:43.498 veterans organization , the Grand Army 09:43.498 --> 09:45.665 of the Republic proclaimed May 30th by 09:45.665 --> 09:47.669 General order number 11 . In his 09:47.679 --> 09:50.109 proclamation , he stated , let us then 09:50.119 --> 09:52.230 at the time appointed , gather around 09:52.230 --> 09:54.286 their sacred remains and garland the 09:54.286 --> 09:56.452 passionless mounds above them with the 09:56.452 --> 09:58.563 choicest flowers of spring time . Let 09:58.563 --> 10:00.675 us raise above them the dear old flag 10:00.780 --> 10:02.836 that say that they say from dishonor 10:03.299 --> 10:05.809 let us in the solemn presence , renew 10:05.820 --> 10:08.340 our pledges to aid and assist those who 10:08.349 --> 10:10.293 they have left behind us as sacred 10:10.293 --> 10:12.405 charges upon the nation's gratitude , 10:12.405 --> 10:14.516 the soldiers and sailors , widows and 10:14.516 --> 10:18.500 orphans after World War One Memorial 10:18.510 --> 10:20.621 Day was expanded further to honor all 10:20.621 --> 10:22.677 of those who died in American wars . 10:22.677 --> 10:24.843 And in 1971 congress declared Memorial 10:24.843 --> 10:27.039 Day a national holiday which we 10:27.049 --> 10:29.880 continue to honor today . This indeed 10:29.890 --> 10:32.112 is our duty as Americans to honor these 10:32.112 --> 10:34.280 brave men and women . Memorial Day 10:34.289 --> 10:36.289 serves an opportunity for us to set 10:36.289 --> 10:37.900 aside our differences and to 10:37.900 --> 10:39.956 acknowledge the immense debt that we 10:39.956 --> 10:41.956 owe our fallen soldiers , sailors , 10:41.956 --> 10:44.178 airmen , and marines , and the families 10:44.178 --> 10:46.400 and loved ones they left behind who you 10:46.400 --> 10:48.622 know , remember them , not only today , 10:48.622 --> 10:51.280 but every day , America's war dead will 10:51.289 --> 10:53.289 not only be remembered today in the 10:53.289 --> 10:55.178 United States but also gatherings 10:55.178 --> 10:57.233 around the globe . This Memorial day 10:57.233 --> 10:59.345 long running ceremonies take place in 10:59.345 --> 11:01.511 England , France , the Philippines and 11:01.511 --> 11:01.380 elsewhere . With 14 American military 11:01.390 --> 11:04.520 cemeteries located worldwide . One 11:04.530 --> 11:06.641 cemetery in Cambridge . England holds 11:06.641 --> 11:08.863 the remains of those army air force men 11:08.863 --> 11:11.030 who flew fighters and bombers from the 11:11.030 --> 11:13.086 eighth , from the countryside to the 11:13.086 --> 11:15.141 England mainland European mainland , 11:15.141 --> 11:17.141 including some of those in the very 11:17.141 --> 11:19.252 same 55th pursuit group that we claim 11:19.252 --> 11:22.719 is our lineage at this time . I would 11:22.729 --> 11:24.840 also like to point out if you look up 11:24.840 --> 11:26.840 at old glory flying over our parade 11:26.840 --> 11:28.840 field , you'll see the Powmi a flag 11:28.840 --> 11:31.062 just below her . We know what that flag 11:31.062 --> 11:34.820 says . You are not forgotten . Yes . As 11:34.830 --> 11:36.830 we stand here today , we still have 11:36.830 --> 11:38.997 Americans missing from World War One , 11:38.997 --> 11:41.052 World War Two , the Korean War , the 11:41.052 --> 11:43.219 Cold War , the Vietnam War in the 1991 11:43.219 --> 11:45.710 Gulf War here at of it . We are honored 11:45.719 --> 11:47.969 to host a department of defense Powmi , 11:47.979 --> 11:50.059 a accounting agency laboratory right 11:50.070 --> 11:52.659 down the street in building D . This 11:52.669 --> 11:54.836 should serve as a constant reminder to 11:54.836 --> 11:56.836 all of us about the sacrifices that 11:56.836 --> 11:59.058 have been made so that we can enjoy our 11:59.058 --> 12:00.725 freedom . And it's incredibly 12:00.725 --> 12:02.836 reassuring to know they will not stop 12:02.836 --> 12:06.090 until all have been brought home . And 12:06.099 --> 12:08.266 if you excuse me for just one moment , 12:08.266 --> 12:10.488 I'd like to take a break from my pre uh 12:10.488 --> 12:12.432 prepared remarks . I wanna mention 12:12.432 --> 12:14.655 three individuals that are exemplars of 12:14.655 --> 12:16.877 the hundreds of thousands that we honor 12:16.877 --> 12:20.549 today . 15 years ago . Yesterday , 25 12:20.559 --> 12:23.140 May 2009 America lost three patriots . 12:25.330 --> 12:27.750 We lost senior airmen , Ashton Lynn , 12:27.760 --> 12:30.619 Marie Goodman , United States Air Force , 12:30.630 --> 12:32.989 Lucy Rowe , master sergeant , United 12:33.000 --> 12:35.330 States Army and one of our own 12:35.479 --> 12:37.646 Lieutenant Colonel , Mark E Stratton , 12:37.646 --> 12:39.739 the second , the United States Air 12:39.750 --> 12:41.609 Force . They were members of a 12:41.619 --> 12:43.341 provincial reconstruction team 12:43.341 --> 12:45.175 operating in Panshir Province in 12:45.175 --> 12:47.341 Afghanistan and they were killed while 12:47.341 --> 12:49.508 they were leaving their Ford operating 12:49.508 --> 12:51.508 base and heading back to Bagram Air 12:51.508 --> 12:53.619 Base . I talk about the three of them 12:53.619 --> 12:55.619 because they are truly exemplars of 12:55.619 --> 12:57.730 everything . We do . Ashton Goodman . 12:57.730 --> 12:59.841 She was a vehicle operations driver , 12:59.841 --> 13:01.952 but she was also a diplomat on a team 13:01.952 --> 13:04.659 with four females . She spent her time 13:04.669 --> 13:06.558 going around not just driving the 13:06.558 --> 13:08.002 members of the provincial 13:08.002 --> 13:10.002 reconstruction team , but she was a 13:10.002 --> 13:12.225 diplomat engaging with women across the 13:12.225 --> 13:14.447 province to try to build women's rights 13:14.650 --> 13:18.409 and empower women . Blue ro , she was 13:18.419 --> 13:20.252 uh he was the chief of the civil 13:20.252 --> 13:22.580 Affairs team , the NCO IC , but he was 13:22.590 --> 13:24.757 also a first sergeant and a leader for 13:24.757 --> 13:28.080 that team . And lastly , Lieutenant 13:28.090 --> 13:30.201 Colonel Mary Stratton the second , he 13:30.201 --> 13:32.257 was the commander of the team and an 13:32.257 --> 13:35.919 outstanding airman . Colonel Stratton 13:35.929 --> 13:37.985 was one of our own . He was a man of 13:37.985 --> 13:40.262 Texas , but he was the son of Nebraska . 13:40.270 --> 13:42.479 He had family values that we recognize 13:42.489 --> 13:44.378 and honor , caring , compassion , 13:44.378 --> 13:46.909 patriotism . And I say he was one of 13:46.919 --> 13:49.030 our own . He was a member of the 55th 13:49.030 --> 13:50.975 wing and he also worked across the 13:50.975 --> 13:53.197 street at Stratcom . He was a Cobra all 13:53.197 --> 13:55.539 navigator and instructor and he spent 13:55.549 --> 13:57.549 his time at Stratcom working up and 13:57.549 --> 13:59.716 became ultimately the aide de camp for 13:59.716 --> 14:01.827 the deputy commander of Stratcom . He 14:01.830 --> 14:05.789 had PP CS to Washington DC working 14:05.799 --> 14:08.630 in the J five on strategic policy and 14:08.640 --> 14:11.150 plans and he deployed to Afghanistan , 14:11.159 --> 14:13.381 a deployment that he voluntarily took . 14:14.840 --> 14:17.830 And while he was there , he was killed , 14:17.840 --> 14:21.260 he fell in battle . He was a true 14:21.270 --> 14:23.789 example of duty , honor , integrity , 14:23.799 --> 14:26.150 service and excellence . And it's 14:26.159 --> 14:28.381 fitting that here at the 55th Wing , we 14:28.381 --> 14:30.437 recognize him on the base . The road 14:30.437 --> 14:31.992 that connects the 55th wing 14:31.992 --> 14:34.159 headquarters with Stratcom is known as 14:34.159 --> 14:36.381 Stratton Boulevard Stratton Avenue that 14:36.381 --> 14:38.326 is named in his honor . I bring up 14:38.326 --> 14:40.669 these three individuals to explain the 14:40.679 --> 14:43.140 individuals that we have that are in 14:43.150 --> 14:45.130 the hundreds of graves here and 14:45.140 --> 14:47.307 hundreds of thousands of graves across 14:47.307 --> 14:49.418 the rest of the world . These are the 14:49.418 --> 14:51.584 patriots that we honor on Memorial Day 14:52.789 --> 14:55.679 and closing . I want to encourage 14:56.570 --> 14:58.681 all of us to take the lessons learned 14:58.681 --> 15:00.903 on Memorial Day into our daily lives as 15:00.903 --> 15:03.070 we find ourselves more engrossed in an 15:03.070 --> 15:03.059 area of great an era of great power 15:03.070 --> 15:05.014 competition . Let's remember those 15:05.014 --> 15:07.070 proud patriots who made the ultimate 15:07.070 --> 15:09.126 sacrifice in defense of our American 15:09.126 --> 15:11.348 way of life . We're obliged to exercise 15:11.348 --> 15:13.514 our rights as citizen and free society 15:13.514 --> 15:16.820 that have been so dearly won in the 15:16.830 --> 15:18.941 words of World War Two medal of honor 15:18.941 --> 15:21.052 recipient , Lucian Adams , the legacy 15:21.052 --> 15:23.219 of brave men and women who have fought 15:23.219 --> 15:25.108 and died for their country is the 15:25.108 --> 15:27.163 freedom that we enjoy as Americans . 15:27.163 --> 15:28.163 Thank you , 15:40.500 --> 15:42.599 Colon Klik . Thank you for your 15:42.609 --> 15:45.359 inspiring words . Ladies and gentlemen , 15:45.369 --> 15:47.760 Master Sergeant , Rachel Wilson will 15:47.770 --> 15:50.000 now sing God bless America , followed 15:50.010 --> 15:51.899 by the lane of reeds by the awful 15:51.899 --> 15:54.239 chiefs group and the Affairs Sergeant 15:54.250 --> 15:57.210 Council immediately following the lane 15:57.219 --> 15:59.419 of reeds . Please stand and render the 15:59.429 --> 16:01.429 appropriate honors for the plane of 16:01.429 --> 16:04.020 taps by Master Sergeant car Iten from 16:04.030 --> 16:06.260 the United States Air Force Harland of 16:06.270 --> 16:07.270 America . B . 16:14.450 --> 16:16.559 God bless 16:16.570 --> 16:18.869 America 16:20.500 --> 16:24.039 that I love . Stand 16:24.049 --> 16:27.960 beside her and guide her 16:28.130 --> 16:31.210 through the night with a light frog 16:32.169 --> 16:35.710 of from the mountains 16:35.719 --> 16:39.669 to the prairies to the ocean . 16:40.710 --> 16:43.679 White with f home . 16:46.090 --> 16:46.650 Oh , my 16:49.880 --> 16:53.739 home . Sweet home home . 16:55.590 --> 16:58.330 I saw me recall . 17:00.590 --> 17:02.669 I'm so it at all . 18:44.819 --> 18:47.189 Ladies and gentlemen , thank you for 18:47.199 --> 18:49.640 attendance today's ceremony . As we go 18:49.650 --> 18:52.229 from this place , may our remembrance 18:52.239 --> 18:54.680 inspire each of us to live our lives in 18:54.689 --> 18:57.900 a man that will build upon the legacy 18:57.910 --> 19:00.020 of those who have gone before us . 19:00.199 --> 19:00.739 Thank you .