SOUTHWEST ASIA -- More than 100 Airmen gathered to remember a fallen member at a T-wall painted in her honor March 22, 2018, at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia.
Members of the 332nd Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron gathered at 12:21 a.m. to pay their respects to Staff Sgt. Alexandria Morrow, who passed away the previous year during a bomb loading accident.
The ceremony began at the time that the incident occurred and included more than 20 seconds of silence, a flag ceremony and the playing of Taps to honor Morrow.
Although though most of the current deployed maintenance personnel did not know Morrow directly, they still came together to honor her because still she was one of them.
“We took this moment to pause from daily operations and reflect on the dangerous business we are in,” said Master Sgt. Steven A. Edmonds, 332nd EMXS weapons section chief. “She was a beloved member of our team and was taken away from us too soon.”
Morrow, a wife and mother of two, was deployed from Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, when she died and she was known as “Mother Alex” both at her home station and deployed, said Chief Master Sgt. Dennis Fuselier, 332nd Expeditionary Maintenance Group, wing weapons manager.
Fuselier had never met Morrow, but was notified of her passing 20 days after learning he would be the new wing weapons manager at Mountain Home AFB, Idaho.
“Upon arriving at Mountain Home, I was flooded with stories of Alex; how loving she was and how she would do anything for anyone,” added Fuselier.
Now, Fuselier is assigned to the same Southwest location and had the opportunity to participate in Morrow’s remembrance ceremony.
“One year later, I am honored to be standing here paying my respects to someone who gave so much for her country and everyone around her,” said Fuselier.
“I never met Alex, but she was my comrade in arms, my fellow weapons loader, and that is a bond that will never be broken,” added Fuselier. “The Air Force weapons community will never forget Alex and she will forever live in our thoughts and prayers.”
Members of the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing gathered to pay their respects and honor Staff Sgt. Alexandria Morrow at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia March 22, 2018. Morrow passed away the following year during a bomb unloading accident. Morrow, also known as “Mother Alex” or “the mother of the flight line” was a wife and mother of two. She was deployed from the 366th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Mountain Home Air Force Base. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Master Sgt. Cohen A. Young)