FORT BLISS, Texas - Embedded within the “Soldier’s Creed” is a promise that transcends the battlefield—a promise to stand united in the face of adversity.
The creed serves as a moral compass, guiding Soldiers to face the shared burden of loss with unwavering resilience. In those sacred moments, the words, "I will never leave a fallen comrade," echo not just as a pledge but as a call to action.
To honor the memories of those who came before, Capt. Cameron Ashdown, behavioral health officer, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, coordinated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to conduct a remembrance march for his brigade, and on Nov. 9, over 250 Soldiers, veterans, and civilians participated on the grounds of the Fort Bliss National Cemetery.
“To never leave behind a fallen comrade transcends life. We carry our comrades’ memories as silent companions who march with us through our military service and beyond,” Ashdown said. “These memories are not burdens but a beacon of inspiration.”
Each Soldier marched in reverence, donning an assault pack containing a full-duty uniform — a gesture to resemble the fallen service member they marched in honor of. The pack's weight was more than physical, it was also a tangible representation of the individual for whom they lost.
Chaplain (Maj.) Antonio Garcia-Mendez, brigade chaplain, 3rd ABCT, 1st AD, shared a quote from the Spanish poet Antonio Machado. “Wayfarer, there is no way. Make your way by going farther.” He speaks of the roads we walk in life, and how we march together, in unison, towards an ordinary meaning.
The loudest sounds of the march were not of boots on pavement or the rustling of the brigade colors but the moments of silence that punctuated the march. In those moments, the Soldiers stood in contemplation with bowed heads in deep contemplation and gratitude. The silence spoke volumes, an acknowledgment of the debt owed to those who had laid down their lives in service to freedom.
“Buried here is Command Sergeant Major Robert L. Foreman, a veteran of both the Korean and Vietnam Wars. He is also my grandfather,” said Sgt. Michael Neely, behavioral health noncommissioned officer, 3rd ABCT, 1st AD. “His selfless commitment to defending our country inspires me to approach leadership with resilience, integrity and appreciation for freedom.”
A paradoxical phenomenon that only exists within the military is the inevitability of death and how it becomes a binding force. This force extends beyond our diverse backgrounds, ranks, and history. It reminds us of the sacred oath we make as Soldiers.
“Take a look around at the thousands of tombstones of our fallen comrades. Remember, they have never died but have only faded away,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Eduardo Fernandez, senior enlisted advisor, 3rd ABCT, 1st AD.
In the final unification of the march, Sgt. Nathan Locke, a musician assigned to the 1st Armored Division Band, played the all-too-familiar 24 notes of “Taps,” inviting all to reflect on the event's gravity.
As the last echoes of the trumpet faded across the cemetery, a remembrance board stood as a testament to the unwavering commitment to honor, remember, and cherish the fallen. During the solemn march, Bulldog Soldiers had not just simply walked through a cemetery; they had forged a connection with the past.
The march was more than a gesture; it was a promise—to never forget, to always remember, and to never leave behind a fallen comrade.
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