Army forever family Survivors honor heroes on Memorial Day

By U.S. ArmyJune 5, 2017

Gold Star Survivor pays respect at grave of her fallen hero.
1 / 12 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Gold Star wife crouches at the grave of her husband in Section 60 of Arlington National Cemetery during visit to the nation's capital. Section 60 is reserved primarily for those military members who lost their lives in the Afghanistan and Iraq wars. ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Military leaders honor the fallen at wreath laying ceremony
2 / 12 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Army Maj. Gen. Sean Jenkins, deputy commander of the U.S. Army Installation Management Command, along with Rear Adm. Charles Rock, commandant Naval District Washington, salute in respect and honor at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington Natio... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
BOSS wreath honors fallen Soldiers at Tomb of the Unknown
3 / 12 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Active duty Soldiers in IMCOM's Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers program, or BOSS, brought the wreath as part of their community service and outreach program, to show respect for those who died in the service of their nation. Army Maj. Gen. S... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Gold Star Survivors and BOSS Soldiers at Tomb of the Unknown
4 / 12 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Active duty Soldiers in IMCOM's Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers program, or BOSS, and Gold Star survivors take a moment together to remember their visit to Arlington National Cemetery 28 May 2018. The U.S. Army Installation Management Comman... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Gold Star survivor receives Living Legacy Scholarship
5 / 12 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Rachel Pearson, Gold Star survivor, accepts the 2017 Living Legacy Scholarship awarded to her and co-recipient Dustin Rudolf, on behalf of their fallen hero. Scholarships have been awarded for several years by Columbia Southern Education Group, to p... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Gold Star survivor Rudolf accepts scholarship in memory of fallen
6 / 12 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Dustin Rudolf, Gold Star survivor, accepts the 2017 Living Legacy Scholarship awarded to her and co-recipient Rachel Pearson, on behalf of their fallen hero. Scholarships have been awarded for several years by Columbia Southern Education Group, to p... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
BOSS Leaders place wreath at WWII Memorial
7 / 12 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldier plays Taps, as several organizations place a wreath at the expansive WWII Memorial in Washington, D.C. on Memorial Day, 29 May 2017. As part a trip sponsored by the U.S. Army Installation Management Command, active duty members of the Better ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
BOSS leaders place wreath at WWII memorial
8 / 12 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Leaders of the U.S. Army Installation Management Command, along with Harold Redish, a veteran of the Battle of the Bulge and POW, placed a wreath at the WWII Memorial 29 May 2017. Active duty Soldiers from Japan, Hawaii and around the nation came tog... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
IMCOM leaders place wreath at WWII Memorial
9 / 12 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Sgt. Maj. Hatfield, Command Sgt. Maj. Judkins and Staff Sgt. Turner, of the U.S. Army Installation Command, along with Harold Redish, a veteran of the Battle of the Bulge and POW, placed a wreath to honor those who gave their lives in the conduct of ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Survivors display Gold Star flag at Memorial Day parade
10 / 12 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Survivors, accompanied by active duty Soldiers, salute as they pass the reviewing stand during the Memorial Day parade 29 May 2017, to show their respect for those who died in the service of their nation, and to bring awareness to the meaning of the ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Active Duty BOSS Soldiers participate in wreath laying at Korean War Memorial
11 / 12 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Active duty Soldiers, salute as they place a wreath at the Korean War Memorial on Memorial Day 29 May 2017, to show their respect for those who died in the service of their nation. The U.S. Army Installation Management Command sponsored the annual t... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Survivors tour U.S. Capitol
12 / 12 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Gold Star survivors receive guided tour of the rotunda at the U.S. Capitol 30 May 2017, as part of their visit during Memorial Day events. Survivors from fallen heroes in current and past conflicts recognized through Acts of Congress, which establish... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

ARLINGTON, VA (May 27, 2017) - - During several Memorial Day events, Gold Star family members demonstrated their mutual respect by honoring those who gave the ultimate sacrifice in the defense of the nation.

Survivors from Japan, Hawaii and several other states visited Section 60 of Arlington National Cemetery to show support for each other and listen to memories of the fallen, and later watched as leaders placed a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Joined by active duty Soldiers, who were members of the U.S. Army Installation Management Command's BOSS program, survivors later marched in the annual Memorial Day parade, while displaying a large Gold Star flag, a symbol in recognition and awareness of the sacrifice of families of those who died in the service of the nation.

The Survivor Outreach Services program plans and organizes this annual trip to Washington, D.C. to show their support for survivors, who they consider as permanent members of the Army Family.

Leaders of IMCOM also hosted an "Evening to Honor the Fallen" reception and were on hand to present two Living Legend Scholarships to survivors selected by the Columbia Southern Education Group. Recipients Rachel Pearson and Dustin Rudolf accepted the scholarships in memory of their fallen heroes.

"As we celebrate this [Memorial Day] holiday, this most revered holiday, we must remember it is not just the unofficial start of the summer. Certainly for those in this room, it has a far deeper meaning," said Maj. Gen. Sean Jenkins, deputy commander IMCOM, during the presentation of the scholarships. "Tonight we honor those we have lost, those who have paid a very personal price for you, for us and for our nation. We are humbled by your sacrifice, inspired by your resilience and grateful for your continued service and leadership to our nation."

Members of the delegations went on to participate in wreath-laying ceremonies at the World War II and Korean Memorials, and tour the Capitol and Pentagon.

Related Links:

U.S. Army Installation Mangement Command

Army Survivor Outreach Services