Airmen honor America's fallen

  • Published
  • By Senior Master Sgt. Matt Proietti
  • Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs
WASHINGTON (AFPN) --  Crouched in the shade of an elm tree between the Washington Monument and World War II Memorial here, a major used portable communications equipment Sept. 20 to direct three F-15 Eagle pilots to fly over a national tribute to honor America's fallen and their families.

"It was inspirational and motivating," Maj. Mike McHugh said of the A Time of Remembrance ceremony, which featured music by Air Force musicians and a welcome address by acting Secretary of the Air Force Michael B. Donley.

The aircraft, flown by pilots from the 33rd Fighter Wing at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., soared through a clear late-summer sky. Hundreds of people at the ceremony craned their necks skyward, as did thousands visiting the adjacent memorials at the National Mall, which was called "America's front yard" by the event's master of ceremonies, ABC News White House correspondent Martha Raddatz.

The third annual gathering was sponsored by the White House Commission on Remembrance, which Congress established in 2000 as an independent government organization to encourage U.S. citizens to honor sacrifices of the country's fallen and their survivors. Among its tasks is promoting the National Moment of Remembrance at 3 p.m. each Memorial Day.

The ceremony included two foreign-born U.S. Soldiers, Army Spc. Nakisha Simon and Army Spc. Morgan Facundo, taking the oath of citizenship and presentation of The Gold Medal of Remembrance to children who have lost parents in operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.

Many in the audience wore clothing and buttons bearing names and photos of fallen servicemembers. The family of Army Staff Sgt. Juantrea T. Bradley, a father of four children, donned fluorescent green T-shirts showing the date of his birth, July 28, 1979, and that of his death, March 12, 2008, while deployed to Ali Base, Iraq.

Capt. Peter Mask, a member of the Air Force Honor Guard, attended the ceremony through his volunteer work with the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors.

"It's really a good program. I get to play with (surviving children) and be there for them -- like a big brother," he said. "You'd be surprised how strong some of these kids are. The most important thing for me about this program is just being there to support them."

Businessman and former presidential candidate Ross Perot provided the keynote address at the ceremony. Mr. Perot, a U.S. Naval Academy graduate, said it's important for the country's citizens to honor military veterans, particularly those who died in action.

"They are looking down from Heaven and, believe me, they are smiling," said Mr. Perot, who served four years on active duty in the Navy following his graduation from Annapolis, where he was president of the Class of 1953.

He noted poor treatment of Vietnam veterans returning from service overseas and recalled a Dallas parade in the early 1990s when Operation Desert Storm vets insisted those from the Vietnam War lead the procession.

Major McHugh said he was impressed with Mr. Perot's speech and how it focused on patriotism, not politics.

"He was a true patriot," said the major, who is assigned to Air Combat Command headquarters at Langley Air Force Base, Va.

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