Engineers honor Fallen Sappers at 2019 memorial

By Mrs. Martha Yoshida (Leonard Wood)April 16, 2019

Engineers honor Fallen Sappers at 2019 memorial tribute
1 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Command Sgt. Maj. Galick looks on as Brig. Gen. Robert Whittle Jr. U.S. Army Engineer School commandant, touches the inscription of Sgt. 1st Class Christopher Celiz during a Fallen Sapper Tribute April 11 at the Sapper Memorial Grove, Fort Leonard Wo... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Engineers honor Fallen Sappers at 2019 memorial tribute
2 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Engineers honor Fallen Sappers at 2019 memorial tribute
3 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – The 54th Chief of Engineers Lt. Gen. Todd Semonite, Connie Semonite and Command Sgt. Major Bradley Houston, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, listen to remarks during the Fallen Sapper Tribute held April 11 at Sapper Memorial Grove, Fort Leonard Wood, Mi... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Engineers honor Fallen Sappers at 2019 memorial tribute
4 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – 2nd Lt. Kiley Tevlin and 2nd Lt. Lukas Dretzka, Company B, 554th Engineer Battalion, trace the name of U.S. Army Ranger Sgt. 1st Class Christopher Celiz on the Sapper Memorial Wall April 11 at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. Celiz died in action July 12... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Engineers honor Fallen Sappers at 2019 memorial tribute
5 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Michala and Michele Buzzard trace the name of their loved one, Sgt. Jason Buzzard, April 11. Buzzard gave his life while serving in defense of the nation during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Buzzard is one of 382 names who are inscribed on the Sapper Memo... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Engineers honor Fallen Sappers at 2019 memorial tribute
6 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Engineers honor Fallen Sappers at 2019 memorial tribute
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During a Fallen Sapper Tribute held April 11, at the Sapper Memorial Grove, Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, the U.S. Army Engineer School and Engineer Regiment reflected on the lives and service of fallen Sappers and comrades who participated in both past and current military operations in defense of the nation. A special tribute was paid to U.S. Army Ranger Sgt. 1st Class Christopher Celiz, who died July 12, 2018, while serving during Operation Freedom's Sentinel. A native of Summerville, South Carolina, Celiz enlisted in the U.S. Army in January 2008. He completed Basic Combat Training and Advanced Individual Training as a combat engineer at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.

Brig. Gen. Robert Whittle Jr., the 97th Commandant of the U.S. Army Engineer School, provided remarks during the tribute.

"When duty calls, engineers are willing to sacrifice everything, leaving family and friends behind to face the real risk of giving their last full measure in service to our way of life, our freedoms and all of the things we hold dear," Whittle, said. "We appreciate their courage, their commitment to duty and their willingness to stand up and fight for all of us, especially when so few are willing to answer that call."

"We will always remember our fallen engineers who have paid the price for our freedoms because freedom is not and will never be free," Whittle added. "Without those brave men and women, we would indeed be lost."

Whittle called attention to the 382 names honored on the wall, which are a result of 17 plus years of conflict supporting the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

"All 382 heroes and their families will forever be in our hearts," he said.