Soldiers, families gather for twilight vigil on Fort Hood

By Fort Hood Public AffairsNovember 7, 2009

Candlelight Vigil
1 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Jamie Anderson holds a candle for her daughter, as her grandmother, Jo Ellen Freleigh, of New York, protects her candle from the wind at Fort Hood, Texas. About 300 people attended a candlelight prayer vigil held Nov. 6, at Hood Stadium to honor thos... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Vigil
2 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Chaplain at vigil
3 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Chaplain (Col.) Mike Lembke, III Corps, plays guitar leading mourners in song during a candlelight vigil held to commemorate Soldiers and civilians killed and wounded Nov. 5, by a lone gunman inside and near the Fort Hood, Texas, Soldier Readiness Pr... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Pfc. James Armstrong
4 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – First Army Division West Commander Maj. Gen. Charles A. Anderson speaks with Pfc. James Armstrong and wife, Roxanne, during a chemical light vigil held at the North Fort Hood training site Friday night in remembrance of comrades and loved ones who we... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT HOOD, Texas -- Grieving Soldiers and family members gathered for a twilight vigil last night in remembrance of comrades and loved ones who were killed or wounded in the Nov. 5 shooting attack here.

Substituting chemical lights for candles, the Soldiers paid tribute to their fallen comrades and to those who remain hospitalized.

Maj. Gen. Charles A. Anderson, commander of First Army Division West, expressed his condolences at the solemn event at the North Fort Hood training complex. With anecdotal stories of past tragedies and the heroism and perseverance of the American Soldier, Anderson drew parallels between the "Greatest Generation" and the service men and women of today.

Anderson highlighted acts of heroism that emerged from the violence, and commended the acts of Milledgeville, Ga., native Army Pfc. James Armstrong, who helped get people out of harm's way despite having been shot twice.

Armstrong, a mental health specialist with the 1908th Medical Detachment, Combat Stress Control, was training and processing here for deployment with his unit.

On crutches and in bandages, Armstrong and his wife, Roxanne, were in attendance for the vigil.