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Deployed service members remember veterans

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. David Miller
  • 379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
Southwest Asia --  Members of the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing and partner units remembered the fallen during an Armistice Day ceremony held on Nov. 9 and a Veterans Day ceremony held on Nov. 11, 2013, at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia.

Deployed personnel serving with the Royal Air Force's 83rd Expeditionary Air Group were among the first in the world to mark Remembrance this year, at a sunset ceremony at their base in the Southwest Asia on 9 Nov. More than 100 British and coalition personnel joined the RAF's senior operational commander in the Middle East and Afghanistan for the service, where senior officers from the RAF, Royal Canadian Air Force, U.S. Air Force and other coalition forces laid red poppy wreaths to honor the fallen.

Air Commodore Philip Beach, 83 Expeditionary Air Group air officer commanding - the RAF's senior operational commander in the region - led the ceremony.

"This evening we gathered to remember the fallen, whose courage, dedication and sacrifice leave us with a great legacy of freedom," said Beach. "I hope everyone who observes remembrance this year keeps that legacy in mind, and also honors the men and women of all ranks, services and nationalities who continue to secure it."

In a tribute to allied nations who have fought alongside British personnel, "Last Post" and "Reveille" were sounded by Capt. Haley Armstrong, the U.S. Air Force's Central Band officer in charge, deployed here from Kadena Air Base, Japan.

Two days later, U.S. and coalition forces again came together to pay respect to veterans from the past and present on Nov. 11.

Veterans Day, which became a legal holiday in the United States in 1954, commemorates American veterans of all conflicts.

Members of the 379th Expeditionary Medical Group led the Veterans Day retreat ceremony and members of the base honor guard retired the colors. More than 50 service members participated in the retreat formation with more than 200 base attendees.

Out of the estimated 300 million people in the United States, less than one percent has served or is serving in a branch of the U.S. Armed Forces.

"Each year we take this time to remember the sacrifices of our brothers and sisters gone before us," said Brig. Gen. Roger Watkins, the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing commander. "It is so important to constantly remind ourselves why we are here working hard each day to protect our families back at home. We cannot honor and thank these veterans enough for their service and sacrifice for our freedoms."

[Editor's note: Squadron Leader Andy Wasley contributed to this article]