Manas coalition team pauses to remember the fallen

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Jerome Baysmore
  • 376th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
MANAS AIR BASE, Kyrgyzstan (AFPN) --  Men and women of the 376th Air Expeditionary Wing and coalition team gathered to remember the fallen in a Memorial Day ceremony here May 26.

The Manas coalition team also paused to honor fallen Spanish Airmen and Soldiers. The ceremony marked the five-year anniversary of 62 Spanish servicemembers lost in a 2003 commercial contract plane crash in Turkey as they redeployed. Twenty-one of the Spaniards were serving in the Spanish detachment at Manas Air Base.

"Today is Memorial Day -- the day we honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice," said Col. Harrison Smith, 376th AEW commander. "Speaking of those warriors, U.S. President George W. Bush said, 'They understood that tyranny must be met with resolve ant that liberty is always the achievement of courage. The fallen give silent witness to the price of liberty, and our nation honors them this day and every day.'"

Originally for Operation Enduring Freedom and now as part of the International Security Assistance Force, the Spanish Air Force detachment has contributed to the war on terrorism here along with the 376th AEW "Liberandos." The coalition team paid tribute to the fallen servicemembers and laid wreaths in their honor.

The Ejercito del Aire España, or Spanish air force, deployed a C-130 detachment known as Gemini in February 2002 to assist in Operation Enduring Freedom. The Gemini detachment redeployed to Kuwait in June 2003 and it was not until August 2004 that the current "Mizar" detachment was established.

Mizar, the horse, is the name of a star in Ursa Major and the companion to Alcor, the rider, which is by design the name of the Mizar's sister detachment in Herat, Afghanistan. 

Maj. Santiago Ibarreta, Spanish Air Force Mizar detachment commander, added that although they don't have a Memorial Day in Spain, they are proud and honored to be part of the ceremony here.

"This is a very important day for us here," he said. "We are remembering the loss of our comrades who died in a tragic accident but at the same time, we are very proud to stand with you this Memorial Day."

"This is a great day to remember those who have fallen in the line of duty defending democracy and freedom because it's not cheap and not granted, so you have to defend it."

Colonel Smith said that speaking on Memorial Day holds a special meaning for him stemming from his days at Columbus Air Force Base, Miss. He explained that he had a chance to visit the site where confederate women cared for the graves of the fallen confederate as well as union soldiers there. Their empathy and compassion was the inspiration for 'Decoration Day,' which later developed into Memorial Day.

He also expressed his condolences for the Spanish detachment and honored all the fallen Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines from past wars as well as those lost during the war on terrorism.

"To be here today, with the Spanish, to honor the fallen from an aircraft accident in Turkey just five years ago was highly significant to me -- it's meaningful and moving to be able to share this with them," he said. "Everything we do here is a coalition effort --the Spanish, the French and the United States. We've been together since 2002 in a long-standing effort to support the ongoing operations in Afghanistan."

"We're one team, and we've shared laughs together and tears together," Colonel Smith said. "I'm sure it will continue to be that way as long as we're here in the Kyrgyz Republic."

Comment on this story (comments may be published on Air Force Link)

View the comments/letters page