FORT STEWART Ga. - As in years past, the 3rd Infantry Division supported local communities
across Coastal Georgia this year as they paused the last Monday in May to pay tribute to the men and women who died in service to our Nation.
On May 26, the 3rd Infantry Division Brass Quintet began those memorials early as they played the National Anthem and Taps in Atlanta at a ceremony with Georgia Governor Nathan Deal in a special tribute to 22 service members who died in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Closer to home in Savannah, two Soldiers from the 1st Heavy Brigade Combat Team represented
the U.S. Army, May 27, in a joint color guard carrying the U.S. flag and the Army flag at the
Armed Forces Day Festival ceremony at Rousakis Plaza on River Street. The annual Memorial Day-themed event was hosted by the 165th Air Lift Wing at Travis Field, part of the Savannah International Airport. Lt. Col. Jose Aguilar, Hunter Army Airfield garrison commander, gave brief
remarks at the opening ceremony; weekend events included performances by various military
bands.
Major General Robert Abrams, commander, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart-Hunter Army Airfield, gave the keynote address at the Annual Hinesville American Legion's Post 168
Memorial on May 30, 11 a.m., as well as later that evening, at Chapter 671 Vietnam Veterans
Association’s Candlelight Memorial Day ceremony in Savannah at Emmet Park.
“The Vietnam War and its veterans have a special place in the Abrams home,” said Maj. Gen.
Abrams, at the Emmet Park event. He said his two brothers served in the war and his father, the late Gen. Creighton Abrams, commander of the U.S. forces in Vietnam from 1968-1972, and
served as Army Chief of Staff from 1972-1974.
The 3rd ID commander talked about the different homecomings " or lack thereof"that service members of that generation received, versus our Soldiers today.
“It’s no secret that we didn’t treat our Vietnam veterans very well, when they got home,” he
said. “That’s my brothers’ generation and my dad’s generation, so I lived it firsthand. No one ever said welcome home to them. Today’s Soldiers, we get that every time we come home " I get it just coming home on leave. But for them, they didn’t get that….and so I don’t think we can say thanks enough to them " it’s long overdue.”
In addition to the commander, Chap. (Lt. Col.) Robert Whitlock, 3rd ID chaplain, gave the invocation and benediction, the 3rd ID brass quintet played patriotic songs including the National
Anthem and each of the service songs, and a firing party from Troop D, 5th Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Heavy Brigade Combat Team performed a 21-gun salute after a bell rang
12 times for each of the major conflicts the U.S. military has taken part in.
Savannah was also the location for the Chatham County American Legion's Post’ Memorial
Ceremony earlier in the day at Bonaventure Cemetery. George Bartell, 2010 Chatham County
Veteran of the Year, was one of many veterans who attended. The 3rd Infantry Division support
included Taps by the 3rd ID Brass Quintet. The 3rd Combat Aviation
Brigade provided a firing party, chaplain and a non-commissioned officer to participate in a
ceremonial roll call.
The 3rd CAB also provided the Sun City Veterans Association in South Carolina a Fallen Soldier
Memorial on Magnolia Hall Lawn on May 30 for its 12th Memorial Day ceremony. Retired Army Col.
Glenn Frasier spoke about his experiences as a POW and the Bataan Death March.
Colonel Roger Cloutier, Chief of Staff, 3rd ID, Fort Stewart-Hunter Army Airfield, was the
featured speaker at the Annual City of Richmond Hill Memorial Day Ceremony. The 2nd Heavy
Brigade Combat Team also provided a color guard.
Lieutenant Colonel Miles Townsend, commander, 3rd Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Heavy Brigade Combat Team, delivered remarks at the Annual Ladies Auxiliary of the VFW post
3563 Memorial Day Observance in Vidalia at Southeastern Technical College. The 3rd Infantry
Division Band and the 3rd BSB Color Guard also participated.
The ceremonies held throughout the Coastal Empire celebrate a central theme " they are all
heroes who paid the ultimate price for our nation’s freedom. They practiced the same Army
values of privates and generals" loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity and personal courage. They were ordinary men and women who rose to meet impossible odds and did extraordinary things.
Military and civilian citizens alike paused again this year to reflect on their service and the gift they left - the gift of liberty, love and life.
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