Ceremony Marks 19th Anniversary of Scud Missile Attack

By Sgt. Crystal Adamosky, 316th ESC Public AffairsMarch 3, 2010

Ceremony Marks 19th Anniversary of Scud Missile Attack
1 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Ceremony Marks 19th Anniversary of Scud Missile Attack
2 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – GREENSBURG, Pa. - Friends and families gather outside of the U.S. Army Reserve Center here for a memorial ceremony in honor of 13 Soldiers who lost their lives on Feb. 25, 1991 in an Iraqi Scud missile attack. The annual event brings the local milit... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Ceremony Marks 19th Anniversary of Scud Missile Attack
3 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – GREENSBURG, Pa. - A stuffed bear is left at the site of the 14th Quartermaster Company's memorial to its Army Reserve Soldiers lost in an Iraqi Scud missile attack on Feb. 25, 1991. Since the attack, friends and families have continued to gather at ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Ceremony Marks 19th Anniversary of Scud Missile Attack
4 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – GREENSBURG, Pa. - Friends and families gather for a memorial ceremony at the local U.S. Army Reserve Center recently. Posted on a board inside the facility are photos of the 13 Army Reserve Soldiers from the 14th Quartermaster Company who lost their... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Ceremony Marks 19th Anniversary of Scud Missile Attack
5 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – GREENSBURG, Pa. - During an annual memorial ceremony at the local U.S. Army Reserve Center recently, Connie Clark took a moment to place a carnation on the site of the 14th Quartermaster Company's memorial to 13 of its Soldiers who were killed on Fe... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Ceremony Marks 19th Anniversary of Scud Missile Attack
6 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – GREENSBURG, Pa. - Members of the Combat Veterans Association salute the memorial site of Army Reserve Soldiers with the 14th Quartermaster Company during a ceremony at the U.S. Army Reserve Center here Thursday. The event marked the 19th anniversary... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

GREENSBURG, Pa. (March 3, 2010) - February 25 is a distinctive day here for many local military families and service members. For some, it is a moment of reflection. For others, it was the day a loved one was taken away. For the last 19 years, Soldiers, friends, families and loved ones have gathered at the local Army Reserve Center to memorialize this event; a day that changed the community forever. On Feb. 25, 1991, approximately 70 Soldiers from the 14th Quartermaster Company had just deployed to Saudi Arabia in support of Operation Desert Storm, preparing to provide water purification support. At 8:40 pm (12:40 pm EST), an Iraqi Scud missile hit their barracks, killing 13 and wounding 43 of the unit's Soldiers. No other community felt a greater loss that day than Greensburg, the home of the 14th QM CO. "It was a heartfelt moment," said Mike Hampton, veteran and member of the VFW, Post 781. Hampton, as with many of the ceremony attendees, remembers that day in precise detail. It is a day this community will not forget. Together, the ceremony participants gathered outside of the facility near the memorial which was constructed a year after the attack. "This day is so meaningful...They (Soldiers) were so meaningful. They deserve a day of their own," said Connie Clark, the mother of Spc. Beverly Clark, who was among the Soldiers killed in the attack. The site proves to serve as more than just a memorial ground but a place of reflection, support, and camaraderie. "I don't know what I'd do if I couldn't come here," said Clark to the audience. "We gather to remember. We laugh together, cry together and remember together." For one of the former 14th Soldiers, it is a day to see familiar faces. "Today is a memorial...But it is also just nice to see everyone again," said Lester Bennett, who was originally assigned to the 464th Chemical Brigade but deployed and was present with the 14th during the attack. Now a military retiree, he continues to travel to Greensburg for the ceremony every year. Over the years, this close-knit organization has expanded and attracted members from outside the community, such as the Monroeville American Legion. "We wouldn't have what we have today without our service members. We appreciate their support and must always remember them," said Christine DeMarcki, a member of the American Legion Gold Star, Post 820. As the final rose was placed upon the memorial, the ceremony drew to a close. While the moment was solemn, the day proved to be inspirational. Year after year, faces may change but one aspect remains certain. Thirteen Soldiers may have lost their lives on Feb. 25, 1991, but their legacy lives on.