Friday, March 19, 2010

Families Honor Fallen Medical Personnel

From Family Matters Blog:


Families Honor Fallen Medical Personnel


Stephanie Walters and her daughter, 3-month-old Piper, attend a  ceremony honoring fallen military medical personnel at Arlington  National Cemetery in Arlington, Va., March 16, 2010. Walters' husband,  Army Sgt. Richard Walters, a nurse, was killed in Iraq. The Military  Health System's 2010 Remembrance Ceremony honored medical servicemembers  who died in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom  from 2001 through Dec. 31, 2009. DoD photo by Elaine Wilson

Stephanie Walters and her daughter, 3-month-old Piper, attend a ceremony honoring fallen military medical personnel at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va., March 16, 2010. Walters' husband, Army Sgt. Richard Walters, a nurse, was killed in Iraq. The Military Health System's 2010 Remembrance Ceremony honored medical servicemembers who died in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom from 2001 through Dec. 31, 2009. DoD photo by Elaine Wilson

By Elaine Wilson, AFPS
March 18, 2010
elaine.wilson@dma.mil

Earlier this week, I drove to Arlington National Ceremony to attend a touching ceremony in honor of fallen military medical personnel. The event, hosted by the Military Health System, honored 244 medical servicemembers who died in support of operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom from 2001 to Dec. 31, 2009.

I arrived early and decided to walk the mile to the amphitheater. As I trekked up the hill to the site, I was blown away by the beauty, and solemnity, of my surroundings. Row upon row of white marble gravestones stretched into the horizon, each with the name of someone’s loved one inscribed. I thought about the servicemembers represented by these stones and was touched by their selfless service and sacrifice.

At the amphitheater, more than 300 people – family, friends and comrades – from around the nation and world had gathered to honor their fallen loved ones.

“Our nation is indebted to you,” Dr. Charles L. Rice, who is performing the duties of the assistant secretary of defense for health affairs, told the families in attendance. “We will honor your loved ones with tributes today so that they may never be forgotten.”

Navy Rear Adm. (Dr.) David J. Smith, the Joint Staff surgeon, praised the nation’s military medical personnel for their devotion to duty on the battlefield.

“Their legacy is one of selfless service and a legacy that lives on in each of us,” he said. “For those left to mourn and forever reflect on the loss of a loved one, I pray that you will take some measure of comfort in the fact that your family member was devoted to preserving life on the battlefield.”..


Much more here.

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