SGT Roland H. Engwall, USA
CSM Jonathan M. Lankford, USA
SSG Joshua P. Mattero, USA
SSgt William J. Callahan, USMC
SSgt Dustin M. Gould, USMC
Sgt Shawn P. Martin, USMC
Sgt Michael E. Tayaotao, USMC
SSgt Stephen J. Wilson, USMC
SSgt Peter Woodall, USMC
EOD2 Curtis R. Hall, USN
EODC Gregory J. Billiter, USN
EOD1 Joseph A. McSween, USN
EODC Patrick L. Wade, USN
EOD1 Jeffrey L. Chaney, USN
EOD1 Kevin R. Bewley, USN
SrA William N. Newman, USAF
This weekend we added 17 names to the EOD Memorial wall in Florida. The ceremony was beautiful. I don't really know what to write about it because there's nothing I can say to really capture everything that was going on. It's been more than a year now but it still hurts the same as it did on the sixth of April. I was so blessed to finally have a chance to grieve with his family though. I love them so much. I wish that I could be more articulate about the whole experience but it's still too sad to try to put into words.
I took these photos the day after the memorial. Before I flew out, I drove out to the school house so I could have a last quiet look at the memorial and try to sort my feelings out. When I arrived I was alone for about thirty minutes. I reflected on all of my friends whose names now reside on that wall and the moments of memories I have of them. The memorial is our place of honor and rememberance. To see those names on the wall was the final statement that they really are gone. While I was there a couple showed up and took a pencil rubbing of a name that was added to the army tablet. Then another guy showed up and stood by me infront of the navy tablet. He stood looking at it and then stepped forward to reach for a name. He ran his finger over Curt's name as though to wipe away any dust, but really more to verify that his name was actually on this wall.
3 comments:
To the memory of 17 awesome EOD techs.
da momma
I was honored to attend the military funeral ceremony for SrA William Newman family at the veterans cemetary in Pegram, TN. I was also honored to present the US flag to SrA Newman's mother and father. That day I will never forget the grief and sorrow on his parents faces. I still proudly display a picture of SrA Newman in my office. May God Bless America and the Newman family. Freedom is not free. Your service to this nation will not be forgotten.
Maj Goff
OIC TN Air Guard Honor Guard Team
Maj Goff,
Will Newman was one of the incredible people that this world is less for having lost. Thank you for taking the time to comfort his family. I was still in Iraq when his funeral took place but was able to meet his wife during the memorial in Florida. In those moments there are no words to express the sadness that we feel. Thanks for continuing to honor him.
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