FORT BELVOIR, Va. -- The U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command (INSCOM) honored the 67 INSCOM and Army Security Agency (ASA) Soldiers who lost their lives serving their country with a Memorial Day Ceremony at the Nolan Building, May 25.
The official party, led by Maj. Gen. Michele Bredenkamp, INSCOM commanding general; Chief Warrant Officer 5 Jonathan Irby, INSCOM command chief warrant officer; Command Sgt. Maj. Kyle Gillam, INSCOM command sergeant major; and retired Chief Warrant Officer 4 Alan Lindley, an ASA and Vietnam War veteran, presided over the ceremony, with musical support provided by the U.S. Army Brass Quintet.
Attended in-person by members of the command and honored guests, and shared virtually, this year's ceremony was dedicated to remembering and thanking those who gave their lives, and to honoring our Gold Star Families, as they too paid a personal price for our nation’s safety and security.
Bredenkamp began her remarks by honoring our fallen military heroes, both past and present.
“Good morning, Soldiers, civilians, family and friends of the Intelligence and Security Command, thank you all for attending our INSCOM Memorial Day Remembrance Ceremony,” said Bredenkamp. “This is really to pay tribute to the military men and women who gave their lives in service, not only to our organization here at INSCOM, but to the U.S. Army and to our great nation.”
Bredenkamp personally thanked Lindley for his service and outstanding accomplishments.
“I would also like to give a special thanks to CW4 (retired) Lindley… and we are so appreciative that he is here,” remarked Bredenkamp. “Chief Lindley is a Vietnam veteran and he served over 65 years in the Army Security Agency, otherwise known as ASA, and also in our INSCOM formation as a Soldier and civilian. We are extremely grateful that he returned to us as he retired last year from INSCOM.”
Bredenkamp imparted the need to remember our fallen and celebrate the families they left behind with a call to action for the INSCOM workforce.
“Each Memorial Day we remember our fallen comrades; we remember their sacrifice, their bravery, and their unwavering commitment to defending our freedom and our way of life,” said Bredenkamp. “And today, we will reflect and honor the lives of those who have gone before us and let us express our gratitude to the families and the loved ones that are left behind. We will always remember our fallen and honor their sacrifice.”
Bredenkamp then thanked our service members who are stationed around the world defending our freedom.
“So this Memorial Day, let’s also remember those who are currently deployed, away from their loved ones, defending our freedom,” declared Bredenkamp. “We are grateful that so many continue to sacrifice on our behalf and for our nation.”
Bredenkamp ended her remarks by asking the audience to honor our fallen Soldiers and renew our commitments to one another.
“Let this commemoration today pay tribute to those we have lost and also serve to strengthen our commitment to the nation and to each other,” affirmed Bredenkamp.
The event concluded with a wreath laying ceremony by the official party. Bredenkamp and Gillam laid a wreath at the INSCOM Fallen Soldier Memorial, which is made of three granite pillars, honoring those who gave their lives in support of the INSCOM mission. Irby and Lindley laid a wreath at the ASA Memorial, with a statue of a lone Soldier atop its base, honoring those who gave their lives in service to the country.
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