ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL, Ill. - A different set of heroes was honored May 27 by the Joint Munitions Command.

A retiree commemorative plaque ceremony took place inside the JMC headquarters building, honoring employees with more than 40 years of service.

Six JMC retirees returned to the headquarters building located on Arsenal Island to participate in the ceremony. Also eight retirees participated via video teleconference from the Pine Bluff Arsenal, Pine Bluff, Ark., and the Red River Munitions Center, located in Texarkana, Texas.

The plaque will be placed outside the JMC command group executive offices, next to a plaque listing the past and present JMC commanding generals.

JMC honored 74 individuals who retired with 40 to 65 years of federal service. Their total number of service years consists of either a combined military and civilian career or strictly civilian service for the U.S. government.

The retirees also had to have worked their last five years of service at JMC headquarters or subordinate installations upon retirement between 1999 and April 2010. Those who had reached the 40 year service date but passed away before being able to retire, have also been included.

Brig. Gen. Larry Wyche spoke on the importance of honoring those who supported the government 40 years and longer.

"There's nothing greater than honoring those individuals who have given their time and loyalty in defense of our nation," he said. "I've traveled across this country from one ammunition depot to the next and all I can say is I'm humbled by the work you do. I'm also humbled by the work completed by these retirees that in some instances laid the foundation for our employees.

"I recently told a group of ammo logisticians my thoughts about two sets of heroes. One set of heroes is on the tip of the spear on the battlefield. The Soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines. The other set of heroes are (the retirees). I'm again - and I can't express this enough - humbled by the things that you have done. Many of us today would not be here without you. Thank you for paving the way for us."

Edith Holmstrom, of Bettendorf, retired at JMC as a transportation specialist after working for the federal government from 1967 to 2009. She appreciated the command's efforts to honor retirees.

"I thought the ceremony was very nice," she said. "(Brig. Gen. Wyche) made us feel very special."

Jim Bolton, of Davenport, retired at JMC after 50 years of service (1959-2009) as a budget analyst for the command's Security Assistance Directorate. He also gave the ceremony high grades.

"The ceremony was great. It was great that the general thought so much of the retirees," he said. "He's a caring person - a people person."

Other JMC headquarters retirees who participated in today's ceremony included Roy Buckrop (1955-2004), of Moline; George Moriarity (1966-2007), of Davenport; and Kate Crane (1967-2007), of Davenport.

After the ceremony, JMC headquarters retirees toured the JMC ammunition display room.

From its headquarters here, JMC operates a nationwide network of conventional ammunition manufacturing plants and storage depots, and provides on-site ammunition experts to U.S. combat units wherever they are stationed or deployed. JMC's customers are U.S. forces of all military services, other U.S. Government agencies, and allied nations.