Military Ceremonial Events

Photos of military leaders addressing audiences during various ceremonial events, highlighting significant milestones and community relationships within the armed forces.

General Glen VanHerck, Commander, North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command, speaks during the USNORTHCOM 20th Anniversary Ceremony Sept. 30, 2022, at Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado. USNORTHCOM was established Oct. 1, 2002 to provide command and control of Department of Defense homeland defense efforts and to coordinate defense support of civil authorities. (Department of Defense photo by Master Sgt. Benjamin Wiseman)

220728-A-JT832-2025CHAMBERSBURG, Pa.Col. Ricky L. Allbritton, commander, Letterkenny Army Depot, provides opening remarks during the depot's 80th anniversary ceremony July 28. The Letterkenny Army Depot 80th Anniversary Ceremony showcases LEAD’s past, present and future and strengthens our bond with the Franklin County community that we call home,” he remarked. LEAD’s 80 anniversary commemoration is not only a celebration for what we stand for - it also is an opportunity for us to define how we will embrace the next 80 years of achievement and service to the warfighter.”

161015-N-AT895-047 BALTIMORE (Oct. 16, 2016) U.S. Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger of Maryland delivers remarks during the commissioning ceremony for the Navy's newest and most technologically advanced warship, USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000).

U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Nicholas Evans, 18th Wing commander, speaks at his promotion ceremony at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Jan. 30, 2024. Evans has had five other assignments in the Indo-Pacific, including Commander of the 613th Air Operations Center in Hawaii, Group and Squadron Commands in South Korea, and Director of the Commanders Action Group for U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.

General Glen VanHerck, Commander, North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command, speaks during the USNORTHCOM 20th Anniversary Ceremony Sept. 30, 2022, at Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado. USNORTHCOM was established Oct. 1, 2002 to provide command and control of Department of Defense homeland defense efforts and to coordinate defense support of civil authorities. (Department of Defense photo by Master Sgt. Benjamin Wiseman)

Oregon State Representative Greg Smith addresses guest and other local officials during the renaming ceremony at the Raymond F. Rees Training Center, Umatilla, Oregon, on Sept. 29, 2022. Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Raymond F. Rees is a retired Oregon Guardsman and served as The Adjutant General, Oregon for more than 16 years, retiring from military service in 2013, and later worked as a civilian as the Deputy Secretary of the Army. (National Guard photo by John Hughel, Oregon Military Department Public Affairs)

Opening ceremony unveiling the new Museum and Visitor Center at Gettysburg National Military Park, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, with Secretary Dirk Kempthorne joining Pennsylvania Governor Edward Rendell, National Park Service officials including Gettysburg Superintendent John Latschar, representatives of The Gettysburg Foundation, and Civil War movie actor Stephen Lang among the dignitaries delivering remarks

Mrs. Fern Sumpter Winbush, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) principal deputy director, gives opening remarks during the National POW/MIA Recognition Day Ceremony hosted by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu, Sept. 16, 2022. The event is held every year on the third Friday of September, honoring prisoners of war and missing-in-action service members. DPAAs mission is to achieve the fullest possible accounting for missing and unaccounted-for U.S. personnel to their families and our nation.

DN-ST-85-02388. Base: Norfolk State: Virginia (VA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen H. Hicks participates in the Suicide Prevention recognition ceremony hosted by William Booth, Director, Defense Human Resources Activity, at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., Sept. 7, 2022.

Swearing-in ceremony for U.S. Park Police Chief Salvatore Lauro, with Secretary Dirk Kempthorne among the dignitaries on hand

GREAT LAKES, Il. (May 20, 2022) Cmdr. John Carter, Naval Station Great Lakes chaplain, has a retirement ceremony in honor of more than 20 years of service. Opened in 1911, NSGL is the Navys largest training installation and the home of the Navys only Boot Camp. Located on over 1600 acres overlooking Lake Michigan, the installation includes 1,153 buildings with 39 on the National Register of Historic Places. NSGL supports over 50 tenant commands and elements as well as over 20,000 Sailors, Marines, Soldiers, and DoD civilians who live and work on the installation.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Dr. June Scobee Rodgers, the founding chair of the Challenger Center for Space Science Education and widow of space shuttle Challenger's STS-51L Commander Dick Scobee, and NASA Associate Administrator for Space Operations William Gerstenmaier pay their respects to the space shuttle Challenger crew members who gave their lives for while furthering the cause of exploration and discovery at the foot of the Space Mirror Memorial at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida. 2011 marks the 25th anniversary of the loss of Challenger, which broke apart over the Atlantic Ocean 73 seconds into flight on Jan. 28, 1986.NASA/Jack Pfaller

U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. David Krumm speaks during the 673d Air Base Wing and Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, change of command ceremony at Heritage Park on JBER, June 28, 2022. U.S. Air Force Col. Kirsten G. Aguilar turned over command to Air Force Col. David J. Wilson as Air Force Lt. Gen. David A. Krumm, commander Alaskan North American Aerospace Defense Region, Alaskan Command, and 11th Air Force, officiated before gathered family members, distinguished guests and military personnel.

Lt. Gen. Michael E. Langley, commanding general of Marine Forces Command, speaks to guests aboard the USS Bataan during an opening ceremony for Fleet Week New York 22 in New York City, New York on May 25, 2022. As a part of Fleet Week New York 22, the Marines of Special Purpose Marine-Air Ground Task Force Fleet Week New York engage in special events throughout New York City and the Tri-State area showcasing sea service technologies, future innovation, and connecting with citizens. Fleet Week New York brings together more than 2,000 service members from the Marine Corps, Navy and Coast Guard offering live band performances, military vehicle and equipment displays, and other community relations projects.

040323-F-0451J-012. Base: Moody Air Force Base State: Georgia (GA) Country: United States Of America (USA) Scene Major Command Shown: AFSOC

Visit of Secretary Dirk Kempthorne to Ellis Island, New York City, New York, where he addressed newly naturalized U.S. citizens during Citizenship Day ceremonies, met with National Park Service (NPS) and U.S. Park Police personnel, and joined U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Emilio Gonzalez for announcement of joint USCIS-NPS program to welcome new citizens at National Park sites

DULUTH, Minnesota (May 21, 2021) - Cmdr. Alfonza White, commanding officer of USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul, salutes Capt. David Miller, Commander, Littoral Combat Ship Squadron 2, during the commissioning ceremony of USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul (LCS 21) in Duluth, Minnesota. LCS 21 is the second U.S. Navy warship to honor Minneapolis-Saint Paul.

220518-N-OH262-0142 WASHINGTON D.C. (May 18, 2022)--Rear Adm. Michael Wettlaufer, Commander, Military Sealift Command, addresses the audience during the Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony held to honor Merchant Mariners of WWII at the U.S. Capital, May 18. During WWII Merchant Mariners put their lives on the line for their country, braving German and Japanese submarines, in their Liberty Ships, as they delivered critical supplies for service members serving in the European and Pacific theaters.

GEN Colin Powell, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of STAFF, prepares to introduce Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney during observance commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Base: Pearl Harbor State: Hawaii(HI) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen H. Hicks participates in the Suicide Prevention recognition ceremony hosted by William Booth, Director, Defense Human Resources Activity, at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., Sept. 7, 2022. (DoD photo by U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Jack Sanders)

Opening ceremony unveiling the new Museum and Visitor Center at Gettysburg National Military Park, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, with Secretary Dirk Kempthorne joining Pennsylvania Governor Edward Rendell, National Park Service officials including Gettysburg Superintendent John Latschar, representatives of The Gettysburg Foundation, and Civil War movie actor Stephen Lang among the dignitaries delivering remarks

221028-N-UQ872-1003 PORT HUENEME, Calif. (Oct. 28, 2022) Capt. Pete Maculan, Civil Engineer Corps Officers School (CECOS) commanding officer addresses CECOS Basic Class 273 students during a graduation ceremony Oct. 28th. Thirty-two students completed the 15-week-long course covering a wide range of topics, including leadership, professional development, public works, construction technology, contracting, expeditionary construction and combat operations.

Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen H. Hicks participates in the Suicide Prevention recognition ceremony hosted by William Booth, Director, Defense Human Resources Activity, at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., Sept. 7, 2022.

Former Secretary of Defense Mark Esper speaks at his official portrait unveiling ceremony at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Va., July 15, 2021. (DoD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Alexander Kubitza)

SGT. JAMES OLD, RIGHT, PERFORMS THE INTRODUCTION FROM JAMES HORNER'S "APOLLO 13" FILM SCORE AT THE U.S. SPACE AND ROCKET CENTER'S MEMORIAL EVENT HONORING NASA'S LOST SPACE HEROES.

Visit of Secretary Dirk Kempthorne to Vicksburg National Military Park, Vicksburg, Mississippi, for touring, participation in events highlighting the restoration project--funded jointly by the National Park Service and the Friends of the Vicksburg National Military Park and Campaign, as part of the National Park Centennial Initiative--aimed at replacing interpretive battlefield markers and conserving the array of bronze statuary and stone monuments at the Civil War site. Joining Secretary Kempthorne for the events, including the unveiling of the first group of 22 metal markers identifying the specific locations of various Union and Confederate artillery batteries during the siege and defense of Vicksburg, were National Park Service Director Mary Bomar, Advisory Council on Historic Preservation Chairman John Nau III, and country music star Trace Adkins, among other dignitaries.

Wells B. McCurdy, a trustee of the Seattle Chamber of Commerce, speaks during the commissioning of the guided missile frigate USS ANTRIM (FFG-20). Base: Seattle State: Washington (WA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

221117-N-EJ843-1119 NORFOLK, Virginia (Nov. 17, 2022) Capt. Tom Foster, commanding officer of the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3), talks during a change of command ceremony Nov 17, 2022. Capt. Chris Farricker relieved Capt. Tom Foster as the 21st commanding officer of Kearsarge.

Brig. Gen. J. Gregory Pavlovich (left), 45th Space Wing, and Center Director Jim Kennedy (right) present one of several individual safety awards given on Spaceport Super Safety and Health Day. An annual event at KSC and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Spaceport Super Safety and Health Day is dedicated to reinforcing safe and healthful behaviors in the workforce.

SAN ANTONIO - (April 19, 2022) - Dr. Corey Levenson, director of San Antonio Military Medical Innovation, San Antonio Economic Development Corporation (SAEDC) moderate a question-and-answer session with (L-R) Dr. Scott Walter of the U.S. Air Force 59th Medical Wing (MDW), Dr. Sylvain Cardin of Naval Medical Research Unit (NAMRU) San Antonio, and Lt. Col Ronnie Hill of U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research (ISR) during the third Military Medical Industry Day (MMID) hosted by the City of San Antonio, SAEDC, and VelocityTX at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center. NAMRU San Antonios mission is to conduct gap driven combat casualty care, craniofacial, and directed energy research to improve survival, operational readiness, and safety of Department of Defense personnel engaged in routine and expeditionary operations. It is one of the leading research and development laboratories for the U.S. Navy under the DoD and is one of eight subordinate research commands in the global network of

U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. George W. Smith Jr., commanding general of I Marine Expeditionary Force, delivers a speech to congratulate and acknowledge the work teachers, faculty, and staff of the Bonsall School District do for military connected children and their families, during a Purple Star Awards ceremony at Bonsall West Elementary School in Oceanside, California, March 30, 2023. The Purple Star Award recognizes schools that are committed and equipped to meet the unique needs of military-connected students and their families.

FORT SAM HOUSTON, TX -- Col. Deydre S. Teyhen was promoted to Brigadier General July 8, 2022 at a ceremony on Joint Base San Antonio by Lt. Gen. R. Scott Dingle, U.S. Army Surgeon General and Commanding General, U.S. Army Medical Command.

221202-N-LN782-1007 (Dec. 02, 2022) U.S. Navy Recruit Training Command's Pass in Review in Great Lakes, Illinois, Dec. 2, 22. row of chief combination covers sit on a table prior to a chief petty officer. More than 35,000 recruits train annually at the Navy's only boot camp

030902-F-9796L-004. Base: Macdill Air Force Base State: Florida (FL) Country: United States Of America (USA) Scene Major Command Shown: USSOCOM

HONOLULU (Sept. 16. 2022) Rear Adm. Blake Converse, deputy commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, renders honors during the National POW/MIA Recognition Day Ceremony at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu. The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) hosts the event every year on the third Friday of September, honoring prisoners of war and missing-in-action service members. DPAAs mission is to achieve the fullest possible accounting for missing and unaccounted-for U.S. personnel to their families and our nation.

WASHINGTON (Oct. 27, 2022) Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro presents the Zachary and Elizabeth Fisher Distinguished Civilian Humanitarian Award to Arthur P. Miller Jr and Marjorie Miller at the Pentagon Oct. 27, 2022. The award was established in 1996 to honor those with a commitment to patriotism and humanitarian concern for U.S. Armed Forces and their families.

Service members from the military commands of Joint Base Cape Cod and the Otis Civilian Advisory Council join together to hold a Memorial Day Observance on Joint Base Cape Cod, Massachusetts, May 26, 2022. During the ceremony, a select choir from Bourne Middle School sang, and wreaths of flowers were placed by memorial stones encircling the large reflecting pool in the center of the park, representing and honoring those lost in service to the nation. (Air National Guard photo by Airman 1st Class Francesca Skridulis)

NAVAL STATION MAYPORT, Fla. (July 8, 2022) Captain Jason Canfield, the outgoing commanding officer of Naval Station Mayport, addresses the audience during the base change of command ceremony at Naval Station Mayport, July 8, 2022. Naval Station Mayport is the largest operational command in Navy Region Southeast.

Leadership of the U.S. Navy, Maryland, Navy Medicine and Walter Reed were onboard Naval Support Activity Bethesda, home to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, on Jan. 8, 2024, to name the USNS Bethesda expeditionary fast transport, the first of her Expeditionary Medical Ship class, operated by the U.S. Navys Military Sealift Command.Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro announced in May that the Navys new class of expeditionary medical ships will be named Bethesda, connecting them to the world-class medical center for healing that has served a countless number of service members since 1942. In addition to Del Toro, other dignitaries who spoke at the ceremony included Maryland Governor Wes Moore, an Army veteran, and his wife Dawn, sponsor of the USNS Bethesda who spoke of her military connections. In addition to her husband, she shared that her grandfather was a veteran who after his military service, helped construct the World Trade Center in New York, and her father, also a

Firefighters place the American flag at half-staff during dedication services for a memorial to the 343 first responder victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks at Fire Station 1 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center on Sept. 11, 2015. A section of steel I-beam from the World Trade Center in New York forms the centerpiece of the monument.

190302-N-RF885-007 CHARLESTON, S.C. (March 2, 2019) Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer delivers his remarks during the commissioning ceremony of USS Charleston (LCS 18). LCS 18 is the sixteenth littoral combat ship to enter the fleet and the ninth of the Independence variant. It is the sixth ship named for Charleston, the oldest and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina.

Capt. Adam Chamie, the former commander of Coast Guard Sector Key West, speaking during a change-of-command ceremony at Coast Guard Sector Key West, Florida, May 4, 2022. Capt. Jason Ingram relieved Capt. Adam Chamie as the commander of Coast Guard Sector Key West.

MAJ. GEN. Claude M. Kicklighter, commander, 25th Inf. Div., speaks during a wreath laying ceremony at the Task Force Smith Memorial which commemorates the first major battle of the Korean War. Attending the ceremony were former members of the 24th and 25th Infantry Division and in the background stands a color guard composed of members of the 1ST Bn., 21st Inf., 25th Inf. Div., deployed from Hawaii to participate in the joint U.S./Korean Exercise Team Spirit '86. Subject Operation/Series: TEAM SPIRIT '86 Base: Osan City Country: Korea

Opening ceremony unveiling the new Museum and Visitor Center at Gettysburg National Military Park, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, with Secretary Dirk Kempthorne joining Pennsylvania Governor Edward Rendell, National Park Service officials including Gettysburg Superintendent John Latschar, representatives of The Gettysburg Foundation, and Civil War movie actor Stephen Lang among the dignitaries delivering remarks

Opening ceremony unveiling the new Museum and Visitor Center at Gettysburg National Military Park, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, with Secretary Dirk Kempthorne joining Pennsylvania Governor Edward Rendell, National Park Service officials including Gettysburg Superintendent John Latschar, representatives of The Gettysburg Foundation, and Civil War movie actor Stephen Lang among the dignitaries delivering remarks

220421-N-XM133-0012 EWA BEACH, Hawaii (April 21, 2022) Capt. John S. Barsano, commander, Navy Munitions Command Pacific East Asia Division provides remarks as he assumes command during the change of command ceremony, April 21, 2022. Capt. John S. Barsano releived Capt. Brett Thompson as commander, Navy Munitions Command Pacific East Asia.

General John W. Rutledge, 9th Reconnaissance Wing commander at Beale Air Force Base, speaks at a ceremony for the arrival of three newly re-engined aircraft. The U-2s were re-engined with General Electric F118s which increase efficiency at higher altitudes and are easier for parts replacement. Base: Beale Air Force Base State: California (CA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - TURRET HOMECOMING USS MONITOR

U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Jacquita Melton assumed the role of Command Chief of the Ohio Air National Guard's 178th Wing in Springfield, Ohio during a change of authority ceremony held Dec. 3, 2022. Melton is the ninth command chief master sergeant of the Ohio National Guard's 178th Wing.

220801-N-TT639-1076 PACIFIC OCEAN (Aug. 1, 2022) - Capt. Joel B Lang, commanding officer of amphibious assault carrier USS Tripoli (LHA 7) addresses the crew during a change of command ceremony on the flight deck, August 1, 2022. Tripoli is operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations to enhance interoperability with allies and partners and serve as a ready response force to defend peace and maintain stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

Graduates from recruit company Bravo-202 complete basic training at U.S. Coast Guard Training Center Cape May, N.J., May 20, 2022. While the missions of the Coast Guard have evolved over the last two centuries, our commitment to being Always Ready has remained steadfast.

U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Kevin B. Kennedy, 16th Air Force (Air Forces Cyber)commander and members of the audience watch Senior Airmen Aliyah Lugo, 16th Air Force (Air Forces Cyber), render a salute to a wreath dedicated to the fallen silent warriors in the 16th Air Force (Air Forces Cyber) at a ceremony held at JBSA Lackland September 9.

Expedition 36/37 prime and backup crewmembers pay homage at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Red Square in Moscow May 8 in honor of Russian Victory Day May 9. From left to right are backup crewmember Koichi Wakata of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, prime Flight Engineer Karen Nyberg of NASA, prime Soyuz Commander Fyodor Yurchikhin, prime Flight Engineer Luca Parmitano of the European Space Agency and backup crewmember Rick Mastracchio of NASA. Nyberg, Yurchikhin and Parmitano are preparing for their launch May 29, Kazakh time, in their Soyuz TMA-09M spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for a six-month mission on the International Space Station.NASA/Stephanie Stoll

An honor guard parades flags during a Department of Defense Pride celebration at the Pentagon, Arlington, Va., June 7, 2022. Guests spoke about the importance of diversity, inclusion and the contributions of LGBTQ service members in the military.

DA-SD-05-00661. Base: Fort Myer, Arlington State: Virginia (VA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

U.S. Marine Brig. Gen. Jason Woodworth, the commanding general for Marine Corps Installations West, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, delivers a speech during the 80th annual Evening Colors Ceremony at the Santa Margarita Ranch House on Camp Pendleton, California, Sept. 15, 2022. The ceremony was held to commemorate the official dedication of Camp Pendleton, which took place in September 1942. The base was named after Maj. Gen. Joseph H. Pendleton, who had long advocated for a West Coast training base to be established. Woodworth is a native of Suffield, Connecticut.

220330-N-PU674-1002 PENSACOLA, Fla. (March 30, 2022) Rear Adm. Pete Garvin, commander, Naval Education and Training Command (NETC), speaks during the 2021 Military Instructors of the Year ceremony in the NETC headquarters courtyard.

Mr. Robert Naething, deputy to the commanding general of United States Army North, speaks during a United States Army Memorial Detachment award banquet, in San Antonio, Texas, Oct. 22, 2022. This award is given to the awardees for their selfless service in volunteering their own time to give back to military families by assisting in funeral honors at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery.

Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen H. Hicks participates in the Suicide Prevention recognition ceremony hosted by William Booth, Director, Defense Human Resources Activity, at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., Sept. 7, 2022. (DoD photo by U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Jack Sanders)

Fort Bragg Garrison Commander Col. John Wilcox spoke at the Cumberland County hosted its annual ‘Remember my Name vigil to bring awareness of domestic violence, Oct. 6.

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Mervale Abraham, 43rd Air Mobility Squadron air freight technician, addresses the community at the Field of Glory Flag Day Ceremony June 14, 2022, in Erwin, North Carolina.(U.S. Air Force photo/Jim Bove)

Col. Joshua Zaker, commander, 22nd Operations Group, McConnell Air Force Base, passes the 64th Air Refueling Squadron unit guidon to Lt. Col. Brandon Stock, incoming commander, during an assumption of command ceremony held at Pease Air National Guard Base on July 8, 2022, in Newington, New Hampshire. The 64th was temporarily deactivated after the 157th Air Refueling Wing divested the KC-135 Stratotanker. It returned to help support the Wing's new complement of a dozen KC-46A refuelers. The unit is expected to staff 160 Airmen at Pease by December 2023.

Service members participate in a joint enlistment ceremony at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Ind., May 22, 2022. The new enlistees stood to honor the official party's departure. (Indiana National Guard photo by Spc. Kelsea Cook)

061014-F-5806B-174. Base: Arlington State: Virginia (VA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Members of the West Virginia University color guard present the U.S. Flag during the opening ceremony of NASAs 2014 Robotics Mining Competition at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida. More than 35 teams from around the U.S. have designed and built remote-controlled robots for the mining competition.The competition is a NASA Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate project designed to engage and retain students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM, fields by expanding opportunities for student research and design. Teams use their remote-controlled robotics to maneuver and dig in a supersized sandbox filled with a crushed material that has characteristics similar to Martian soil. The objective of the challenge is to see which teams robot can collect and move the most regolith within a specified amount of time.

051117-A-9419D-042. Subject Operation/Series: IRAQI FREEDOM Base: Lansing State: Michigan (MI) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Hospital Corpsman Tullia Johnson sings the National Anthem at the Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command Pearl Harbor (NMRTC-PH) Change of Command and Retirement Ceremony on June 23, 2022 at the Hickam Officer's Club, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. Capt. (Ret.) Christopher Tepera retired after 26 years of U.S. Naval service and relinquished command to Capt. Victor Diaz.

Italian Ambassador to the U.S. Mariangela Zappia (center); Italian Air Force Maj. Gen. Maurizio Cantiello (left), defense attaché, Embassy of Italy; and Karen Durham-Aguilera (right), executive director, Office of Army Cemeteries and Army National Military Cemeteries view the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va., March 28, 2023. Zappia and Cantiello were at ANC for a Public Wreath-Laying at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the foundation of the Italian Air Force. The event included a flyover of four T6 aircrafts.

North Carolina National Guard Soldiers with the 258th Engineer Utilities Det., 505th Engineer Battalion, 130th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade received their official send-off during a deployment ceremony at the Soldier Memorial Sports Arena in Butner, North Carolina, Nov. 19, 2022. The 258th will be supporting Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa which conducts operations to enhance partner nation capacity, promote regional stability, dissuade conflict, and protect U.S. and coalition interests. (Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Mary Junell)

Amy Beyer, social worker, reads the names of the 136 infants and children lost over the past year as U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Michael Simmons rings bells in their remembrance during a special pediatric and perinatal remembrance ceremony at Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, Oct. 21, 2022. The ceremony was filled with prayers, poems and reflection.

040614-F-3231D-072. Base: Andrews Air Force Base State: Maryland (MD) Country: United States Of America (USA)

VADM Nils R. Thurman, deputy chief of naval operations for submarine warfare, speaks during the commissioning ceremony for the nuclear-powered attack submarine USS BALTIMORE (SSN-704). Base: Naval Submarine Base, Groton State: Connecticut (CT) Country: United States Of America (USA)

020926-F-4728F-004. Base: Aviano Air Base State: Pordenone Country: Italy (ITA) Scene Major Command Shown: USAFE

GEN Ronald Fogelman, Commander, Air Mobility Command speaks from a lectern in front of the first C-17 Globemaster III being delivered to the Air Force. GEN Fogelman spoke to the participants of RODEO 93 during their airlift competition. Base: Little Rock Air Force Base State: Arkansas (AR) Country: United States Of America (USA)

040917-F-3488S-039. Base: Eielson Air Force Base State: Alaska (AK) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Dr. Richard Blackaby, guest speaker and president of Blackaby Ministries International, gives speech at Tommy B's Activities Center on Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst May 19, 2022. The prayer breakfast highlighted spiritual leadership in unprecedented times.

Air Station Borinquen celebrated the units change of command ceremony June 17, 2022 at the base aircraft hangar in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. During the ceremony, Capt. Lawrence Gaillard relieved Capt. Tina Peña as the new commanding officer of Air Station Borinquen.

U.S. Air Force Airmen assigned to the 104th Fighter Wing, Massachusetts Air National Guard, and guests stand for the national anthem during a change of command ceremony June 12, 2022, at Barnes Air National Base, Massachusetts. A change of command ceremony is a military tradition that represents the formal transfer of responsibility of a unit from one commanding officer to another.

Foreign Affairs Day 2006 ceremonies, speeches, award presentations. Events included ceremony at the American Foreign Service Association's (AFSA) Memorial Plaque, in the Harry S. Truman Building's C Street Lobby, honoring foreign service officers who died in the line of duty.

Visit of Secretary Dirk Kempthorne to Gettysburg National Military Park, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, where he participated in ceremonies commemorating the 144th anniversary of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, conversed with National Park Service staff and visitors, and toured the Park, including the construction site for the new Visitors Center

Military delegation visiting Main Interior for Toys for Tots promotional event, meetings with Secretary Dirk Kempthorne and other senior officials

111128-N-NY820-119NORFOLK (Nov. 28, 2011) Adm. James A. Winnefeld, Jr., 17th commaniding officer of the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65) and current Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, delivers remarks in Enterprise's hanger bay during the "Fifty Years of Legendary Service" ceremony. Enterprise concluded the 50th anniversary of her commissioning celebration Nov. 28 and is scheduled for her 22nd and last deployment this spring.

Veterans Day ceremony and aftermath at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C., where Secretary Dirk Kempthorne delivered the opening remarks, and joined participating dignitaries including the former Secretary of State and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Colin Powell, along with Nebraska Senator Chuck Hagel, Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund Founder and President Jan Scruggs, Vietnam Women's Memorial Foundation Founder and President Diane Carlson Evans, Mary "Edie" Meeks of the Vietnam Women's Memorial Foundation, William Hansen of Lockheed Martin, and William Murdy of Comfort Systems. Ceremony, co-hosted by the Memorial Fund and the National Park Service, highlighted the 25th anniversary of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

220701-N-NT795- SAN DIEGO (July 1, 2022) Cmdr. Erin A. Griffith, native of Oklahoma and Group Surgeon assigned to Maritime Expeditionary Security Group (MESG) 1, delivers remarks during her retirement ceremony held aboard the USS Midway (CV 41) Museum in downtown San Diego. Griffith retired after 20 years of naval service. The Coastal Riverine Force is a core Navy capability that provides port and harbor security, high value asset security, and maritime security in the coastal and inland waterways.

Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy congratulates Maj. Gen. Torrence Saxe, adjutant general of the Alaska National Guard and commissioner of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, on his promotion to lieutenant general

U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Robert Boyette, the Deputy Adjutant General for the North Carolina National Guard, speaks during the National Guard Readiness Center renaming ceremony in honor of U.S. Army Sgt. Juan Carlos Baldeosingh in New Bern, North Carolina, June 11, 2022. On June 29, 2009, Baldeosingh, assigned to Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 120th Infantry Regiment, 30th Armored Brigade Combat Team, was killed in action from an improvised explosive device, which detonated near his vehicle, while on patrol in South Baghdad, Iraq. The renaming of the readiness center is designed to commemorate, reflect on the courage and valor of a fallen Old Hickory Soldier.

Family of Senior Airman Jason D. Cunningham unveiled his plaque during a dorm memorialization ceremony at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. Senior Airman Cunningham is a New Mexico native and was a pararescueman who was posthumously awarded the Air Force Cross for his valor and sacrifice during the Battle of Takur Ghar (Battle of Roberts Ridge) Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. June 14, 2022.

Rear Adm. John Wade, Director of Operations for U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, introduces Surface Warfare panel speakers for Naval Surface and Mine Warfighting Development Center during the Surface Navy Associations (SNA) third annual Waterfront Symposium, at Naval Station San Diego, Aug. 18, 2022, (left to right): Rear Adm. Brenden McLane, commander, Naval Surface Force Atlantic; Rear Adm. Fred Pyle, Director, Surface Warfare Division, N96, Oce of the Chief of Naval Operations; Brig. Gen. Marcus Annibale, Director, Expeditionary Warfare, N95, Oce of the Chief Naval Operations; Rear Adm. Seiko Okano, Program Executive Ocer, Integrated Warfare Systems; and Rear Adm. Christopher Alexander, Commander

Visit of Secretary Dirk Kempthorne to Vicksburg National Military Park, Vicksburg, Mississippi, for touring, participation in events highlighting the restoration project--funded jointly by the National Park Service and the Friends of the Vicksburg National Military Park and Campaign, as part of the National Park Centennial Initiative--aimed at replacing interpretive battlefield markers and conserving the array of bronze statuary and stone monuments at the Civil War site. Joining Secretary Kempthorne for the events, including the unveiling of the first group of 22 metal markers identifying the specific locations of various Union and Confederate artillery batteries during the siege and defense of Vicksburg, were National Park Service Director Mary Bomar, Advisory Council on Historic Preservation Chairman John Nau III, and country music star Trace Adkins, among other dignitaries.

Secretary Gale Norton speaking at Department of Interior South Building ceremony marking adoption by Department employees of the U.S. Army's 101st Airborne Division and the 10th Mountain Division as wartime focal points for volunteer activities on behalf of military families

Maryland Governor Bob Ehrlich speaking during ceremonies at War Correspondents Memorial, Burkittsville, Maryland, featuring unveiling of plaque honoring four prominent journalists killed during war and war-related coverage in Iraq and Pakistan

Gen. David Berger, Commandant of the Marine Corps, speaks during the commissioning of the USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. in Charleston, S.C., May 14, 2022. Lt. General Petersen served in Korea and Vietnam during his career and his legacy is carried on today as an American hero and as an outstanding Marine.

Visit of Secretary Dirk Kempthorne to Ellis Island, New York City, New York, where he addressed newly naturalized U.S. citizens during Citizenship Day ceremonies, met with National Park Service (NPS) and U.S. Park Police personnel, and joined U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Emilio Gonzalez for announcement of joint USCIS-NPS program to welcome new citizens at National Park sites

Veterans Day ceremony and aftermath at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C., where Secretary Dirk Kempthorne delivered the opening remarks, and joined participating dignitaries including the former Secretary of State and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Colin Powell, along with Nebraska Senator Chuck Hagel, Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund Founder and President Jan Scruggs, Vietnam Women's Memorial Foundation Founder and President Diane Carlson Evans, Mary "Edie" Meeks of the Vietnam Women's Memorial Foundation, William Hansen of Lockheed Martin, and William Murdy of Comfort Systems. Ceremony, co-hosted by the Memorial Fund and the National Park Service, highlighted the 25th anniversary of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

NASA Public Affairs Officer Derrick Matthews serves as emcee during a Veterans Day observance event on Nov. 7, 2019, at the Kennedy Space Center Training Auditorium in Florida. During the event, Kennedy was named a Purple Heart Entity by the Military Order of the Purple Heart, becoming the first NASA center to receive this designation for support and services provided to veterans through the spaceports Veterans employee resource group. Attendees included Kennedy employees and more than 20 Purple Heart recipients. Following the award presentation, Christopher Vedvick, a combat wounded veteran and Military Order of the Purple Heart department of Florida commander, spoke about his experience serving in the United States Army before retiring, his involvement in the Military Order of the Purple Heart and the purpose of the organization.

SAN DIEGO (June 5, 2017) Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson addresses guests during the 75th Anniversary Battle of Midway commemoration aboard the USS Midway Museum. The 75th anniversary commemorated all of the sacrifices during the Battle of Midway.

Vice Admiral Mark J. Edwards, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Communication Networks, speaks during a wreath laying ceremony in honor of the USS Hornet at the Navy Memorial, Washington, Nov. 9, 2006. On April 18, 1942, the Doolittle Raiders, led by then Lt. Col. Jimmy Doolittle and a team of 79 volunteer Raiders, from the 17th Bomber Group and 89th Reconnaissance Squadron, attempted what they called a suicide mission.” This secret mission was to lead a squadron of land-based B-52 bombers carrying maximum bomb loads taking-off from the USS Hornet. The Doolittle Raiders became the first to bombard Japan since the attack on Pearl Harbor. The Doolittle Raiders have celebrated their victory for the past 64 years.

040313-F-0681L-014. Subject Operation/Series: IRAQI FREEDOM Base: Hector Iap/Angb, Fargo State: North Dakota (ND) Country: United States Of America (USA)

220513-N-LW757-1013SAN DIEGO (May 13, 2022) Cmdr. Judy Hanhila, a Sailor assigned to Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command (NMRTC) San Diego, gives remarks during a Navy Nurse Corps 114th birthday cake cutting ceremony at the hospital May 13. The Navy Nurse Corps was established May 13, 1908, after the signing of the Appropriations bill by President Theodore Roosevelt. NMRTC San Diegos mission is to prepare service members to deploy in support of operational forces, deliver high quality healthcare services and shape the future of military medicine through education, training and research. NMRTC San Diego employs more than 6,000 active duty military personnel, civilians, and contractors in Southern California to provide patients with world-class care anytime, anywhere.

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