Maj. Gen. Walter E. Piatt, 10th Mountain Division (LI) and Fort Drum commander, and Sgt. Maj. Steven Stites, operations sergeant major, accompanied by Gold Star mother Dawn Esposito and National Football League offensive lineman and former division S...
FORT DRUM, N.Y. (June 22, 2017) -- Members of the Fort Drum community gathered June 20 morning at Memorial Park to pay tribute to the more than 300 10th Mountain Division (LI) Soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice while fighting in contingency operations since 1992.
In honor of the fallen heroes, a wreath was placed at the foot of the Military Mountaineers Monument by Maj. Gen. Walter E. Piatt, 10th Mountain Division (LI) and Fort Drum commander, who was accompanied by Sgt. Maj. Steven Stites, chief operations sergeant major; Dawn Esposito, Gold Star mother, and Alejandro Villanueva, National Football League offensive tackle and former division Soldier.
Piatt welcomed guests to the ceremony and extended a special welcome to those Gold Star Family Members in attendance.
"You honor us every day, and you honor us here today with your presence," he said. "We deeply appreciate you traveling to the North Country and visiting your Fort Drum home and your 10th Mountain Division Family."
He said that Memorial Park not only serves as a place to reflect on loss, but as a reminder to carry on the legacy of those who gave their lives in service to our nation.
"It is on this ground we are reminded daily that we will always mourn the loss of our friends and loved ones, but we must also honor their life of service and the enduring spirit of the 10th Mountain Division," Piatt said. "We welcome all of you here today -- and every day -- to remember and honor our fallen and celebrate their extraordinary lives."
Piatt introduced Esposito, whose son, Sgt. Michael Esposito, a member of 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, was killed in Afghanistan on March 18, 2004. He commended Esposito for her tireless efforts to advocate for fellow Gold Star Families and for the active role she has played in the lives of 2-22 Infantry Soldiers, "encouraging them to honor the life of their friend and her son by living their lives to the fullest."
Esposito recalled her first visit to Memorial Park, during which she watched the unveiling of a plaque bearing her son's name. She said that she was grateful to the 10th Mountain Division leaders who made the decision to create a combined tribute to their fallen heroes, rather than a series of plaques displayed at battalion buildings across the installation.
"The division was forward-thinking," she said. "They said 'we must honor them all in one place.'"
She said that by displaying the names of all the fallen in one central location, "when one is honored, all are honored."
Esposito said that she and her fellow Gold Star Family Members come back to the annual Mountain Remembrance ceremony not only to honor the legacies of their loved ones, but to send a message to the Soldiers of the division -- that they are moving forward and are dedicated to actively supporting those who serve. She thanked the 10th Mountain Division leaders for continuing to remember their Gold Star Families each year.
"If they were brothers in combat then, naturally, they are our sons and daughters. This is why we are honored to be here."
After a 21-gun salute, the playing of taps, a bagpipe rendition of "Amazing Grace," a moment of silence and the benediction, attendees were invited to come forward to view the memorials.
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