FORT BELVOIR, Va. -- The U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command (INSCOM), held a commemorative ceremony to honor some of America's fallen military intelligence heroes at the Nolan building on Ft. Belvoir, May 25.
Following the arrival of the official party and an outstanding invocation, the National Anthem was performed by Michelle Ballard, wife of Maj. Gen. Christopher Ballard, INSCOM's commanding general.
Ballard followed his wife's beautiful rendition with some heartfelt words of his own.
"After three decades in uniform I've come to view Memorial Day, also, as a day to think about the future," Ballard said. "Even as we pay homage to the past."
Ballard took time to reflect on the sacrifice of INSCOM personnel from the past, before taking a moment to ponder the upcoming 40th anniversary and beyond of the organization he now commands.
"Let's face it," He began. "The world had not gotten any less complex or dangerous in the last 40 years and we are all a part of a growth industry. Protecting Soldiers lives."
With remarks complete, the event concluded with a 'wreath laying' ceremony by the INSCOM command team: Ballard, INSCOM Command Sgt. Maj. Dayron Vargas, INSCOM Command Chief Warrant Officer 5 Wendy Wayman, along with special guest, Chief Warrant Officer 4 (retired) Alan Lindley, a veteran of INSCOM's predecessor organization, the Army Security Agency, and the Vietnam War.
The wreaths were rested in front of two prominent memorials which stand in front of the INSCOM headquarters building, paying homage to service members from the military intelligence community who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of their country.
Ballard and Vargas laid a wreath at the INSCOM fallen Soldier memorial, which is made of three granite pillars, and honoring those who gave their lives in support of the INSCOM mission.
The other memorial honors the Army Security Agency, with a statue of a lone Soldier atop its base. Lindley, a former member of this agency, dutifully laid a wreath at the memorial containing the names of many of his fallen comrades, with Wayman.
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