Military Ceremonies and Honors

Images feature military personnel and civilians during memorial ceremonies, emphasizing respect, tribute, and honor for service members in various settings.

Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. James McConville offers condolences to James Megellas following the funeral service for Megellas' grandfather, U.S. Army Lt. Col. James Megellas. in Section 75 of Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va., Sept. 2, 2022.Megellas is considered the most decorated officers in the history of the 82nd Airborne Division. His awards include the Distinguished Service Cross, two Silver Stars, two Bronze Stars, two Purple Hearts, and other military honors for his World War II European service. Megellas is being considered for the Medal of Honor for his service and leadership during the Battle of the Bulge, an upgrade of the Silver Star he received for this service.

Distinguished guests and visitors at the Memorial Day ceremony at Fort Devens post cemetery.

021111-M-8719G-026. State: North Carolina (NC) Country: United States Of America (USA) Scene Major Command Shown: MCB Camp Lejeune

Members of the Iowa National Guard Honor Guard fold an American flag during memorial services for Sgt. Koby Clary at the Liberty Center Cemetery in Liberty City, Iowa, on April 15, 2022. Clary joined the Iowa Army National Guard in 2020 and after serving overseas in 2021, passed away in a vehicle accident on April 9, 2022. He was surrounded by family, friends and his fellow Soldiers as he was laid to rest. (U.S. Army National Guard photos by Staff Sgt. Tawny Schmit)

Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. James McConville offers condolences to James Megellas following the funeral service for Megellas' grandfather, U.S. Army Lt. Col. James Megellas. in Section 75 of Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va., Sept. 2, 2022.Megellas is considered the most decorated officers in the history of the 82nd Airborne Division. His awards include the Distinguished Service Cross, two Silver Stars, two Bronze Stars, two Purple Hearts, and other military honors for his World War II European service. Megellas is being considered for the Medal of Honor for his service and leadership during the Battle of the Bulge, an upgrade of the Silver Star he received for this service.

(From left to right) Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan Yoko Kamikawa and Office of Army Cemeteries and Army National Military Cemeteries Executive Director Karen Durham-Aguilera view the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va., Jan. 12, 2024.

A U.S. Air Force Honor Guardsman presents the U.S. flag to Paula Desmarais following the funeral service of her father, Chief Master Sgt. (Ret.) Paul Kerchum, at the Southern Arizona Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Ft. Huachuca, Arizona, Jan 25, 2023. Kerchum passed away Dec. 17, 2022, and was laid to rest with full military honors on, what would have been, his 103 birthday.

Maryland Governor Bob Ehrlich at podium, with Interior Secretary Gale Norton, Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz behind, left to right, during unveiling of plaque, at War Correspondents Memorial, Burkittsville, Maryland, honoring four journalists killed during war-related coverage in Iraq, Pakistan

(From left to right) Gen. Pierre Schill, chief of staff, French Army; Chief of Staff of the Army General James McConville; and U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Kevin Admiral, director of force management, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Army participate in an Army Full Honors Wreath-Laying Ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va., Aug. 23, 2022.

22074-N-QA919-1285 BREST, France (July 4, 2022) U.S. Navy Sailors assigned to the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) and U.S. Marines assigned to the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit participate in an Independence Day Ceremony with French Navy Sailors, veterans and civilians in Brest, France, July 4, 2022. The Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group and embarked 22nd MEU, under the command and control of Task Force 61/2, is on a scheduled deployment in the U.S. Naval Forces Europe area of operations, employed by U.S. Sixth Fleet to defend U.S., Allied and Partner interests.

220911-N-RB168-0477 Shankville, Pa. (Sept. 11, 2022) - First Lady Dr. Jill Bidenlays a wreath at the Wall of Names at the Flight 93 National Memorial on the 21st anniversary of 9/11. Biden provided remarks as the keynote speaker for the event. The U.S. Navy sent 22 Sailors from the amphibious transport dock ship USS Somerset (LPD 25) to Somerset County for a multi-day trip to attend the observance, and serve in a uniformed capacity as escorts, honoring the families of the 40 passengers and crew that perished on Flight 93. USS Somerset personnel participated in various service and engagement Community Relations projects (COMRELs) during their trip.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III hosts an honor cordon welcoming Japan's Minister of Defense Yasukazu Hamada to the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., Sept. 14, 2022. (DoD photo by Lisa Ferdinando)

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (May 5, 2012) Lt. Cmdr. Rudy Schoen and Command Master Chief Stacey McClain salute the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Memorial wall after unveiling the addition of three shipmates names at the EOD 43rd Annual Memorial Service at the Kauffman EOD Training Complex. The names of eighteen Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines were added to the EOD Memorial at Eglin Air Force Base, bringing the total to 287 names of service members who have sacrificed all in the name of honor to country and service.

The U.S. Armed Forces Body Bearer Team carries the flag-draped casket of U.S. Marine Corps Chief Warrant Officer 4 Hershel Woodrow "Woody" Williams, the last surviving World War II Medal of Honor recipient, at the U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C., July 14, 2022. Woody served 20 years in the United States Marine Corps and was awarded the militarys highest decoration, the Congressional Medal of Honor, by President Harry S. Truman in 1945. (Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Karis Mattingly)

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd take part in a wreath laying ceremony at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, on November 8, 2010.

The Ohio National Guard, Sgt. 1st Class Daniel B. Crabtree Special Forces Facility officially unveiled a memorial for SFC Crabtree, October 15, 2022, at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base, Ohio. Crabtree was killed in 2006 when an improvised explosive device struck his vehicle during his deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

VIP guests march on duriung a ceremony at Aisne-Marne American Cemetery marking the 104th anniversary of the Battle of Belleau Wood, May 29, 2022. The Battle of Belleau Wood is remembered for the intensity of the fighting and sustained, as well as for the participation of the 5th and 6th Marine Regiments. To this day, Marines assigned to these two regiments wear the French fourragere on the left shoulder of their uniforms as a reminder of their unit's distinguished service during the First World War.

Signing ceremony, proclamation declaring Sir Winston Churchill an honorary citizen of the United States, 2:50PM. President John F. Kennedy (standing on steps) attends a proclamation ceremony declaring former British Prime Minister, Sir Winston Churchill, an honorary citizen of the United States. Ambassador of Great Britain, Sir David Ormsby-Gore, stands left of President Kennedy; White House Secret Service agent, Arthur L. Art Godfrey, stands on far right edge of image. Military officers salute. Rose Garden, White House, Washington, D.C.

930503-D-9880W-094. Base: Arlington State: Virginia (VA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

A tomb guard from the 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) and a bugler from The U.S. Army Band, "Pershing's Own", support an Army Full Honors Wreath-Laying at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va., Aug. 23, 2022. The wreath was laid by Gen. Pierre Schill, chief of staff, French Army.

Visit of Secretary Dirk Kempthorne to Yorktown, Virginia to deliver the keynote address at the 225th anniversary celebration of the Battle of Yorktown. Among other dignitaries on hand for the commemorative events were Virginia Senators John Warner and George Allen, former U.S. Army Secretary John Marsh, French Ambassador to the U.S. Jean-David Levitte, and French Defense Minister Michelle Alliot-Marie.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III hosts a meeting with Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Richard Marles at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., July 13, 2022.

Maj. Gen. Charles Costanza, the 3rd Infantry Division commanding general, and U.S. Army Veteran Staff Sgt. Harold Nelson, an infantryman and Dogface Soldier, bow their heads in a prayer during Nelson's Silver Star Medal ceremony at Fort Carson, Colorado, Oct. 4th, 2022. Nelson was drafted into the U.S. Army on July 14, 1941, from Fort Crook, Nebraska. He entered World War II with F Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, as part of Operation Torch in Morocco. Following intense fighting in Northern Africa, Nelson participated in Operation Husky in Sicily, and Operations Avalanche and Shingle in Italy. The Silver Star was established by Act of Congress on July 9, 1918, and is awarded to Nelson for his conspicuous gallantry and uncommon heroism while under fire which were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the 3rd ID and the U.S. Army. The 3rd ID also inducted Nelson into the Marne Hall of Fam

(From left to right): President Joseph Biden, Vice President Kamala Karris, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III, and U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Patrick E. Matlock, special assistant to the director of the army staff, U.S. Army render honors during a Presidential Armed Forces Full Honors Wreath-Laying Ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va., May 30, 2022. This was part of the National Memorial Day Observance.

Hanke Bruins Slot, minister of interior and kingdom affairs, Netherlands participates in a Public Wreath-Laying Ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va., Sept. 28, 2022.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III hosts a meeting with Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Richard Marles at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., July 13, 2022.

Vice Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army Gen. Joseph Martin presents the U.S. flag to Mary Meigs following military funeral honors with funeral escort for Meig's husband, U.S. Army Gen. Montgomery Meigs, in Section 1 of Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va., Jan. 25, 2022. Meigs served as the head of U.S. Army Europe and Seventh Army from 1998 to 2002, where he commanded the NATO peacekeeping force in Bosnia. A 1967 graduate from the U.S. Military Academy, he commanded an armored cavalry unit in Vietnam and the 1st Armored Division in the Persian Gulf War. Meigs was named after his great-great-great granduncle who served during the Civil War as the Armys Quartermaster General and was the architect of Arlington National Cemetery. He is also buried in Section 1.(U.S. Army photo by Elizabeth Fraser / Arlington National Cemetery / released)

On December 7th, 1999, (L-R) US Air Force Chaplain, Colonel Richard K. Hum, U. S. Senator Daniel Inouye, 15 Air Base Wing Commander, COL Steven J. Redmann, retreat from a Ceremony, commemerating the 58th Anniversary of the attack on Oahu and Hickam Field. Base: Hickam Air Force Base State: Hawaii (HI) Country: United States Of America (USA)

The honor cordon stand at attention as Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and U.K. Defense Secretary Ben Wallace hold a bilateral meeting at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., May 11, 2022.

051021-F-5586B-020. Base: Seoul State: Seoul National Capital Area Country: Republic Of Korea (KOR)

2006 Korean War Veterans Armistice Day Ceremony at the Korean War Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C., with Secretary Dirk Kempthorne joining Vice President Dick Cheney and South Koreaa's Ambassador to the U.S., Lee Tae-Sik, among the dignitaries participating

Soldiers with the 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) provide ceremonial support during an Full Honors Wreath-Laying Ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery, Va., Feb. 13, 2024. The wreath was laid by the Chief of Staff of the India Army, General Manoj Pande, and hosted by Maj. Gen. Trevor J. Bredenkamp, Commanding General, Joint Task Force-National Capital Region, U.S. Army Military District of Washington and Gen. Randy A. George, Chief of Staff of the United States Army. Army

U.S. Marine Corps retired Maj. Frank McCarthy, left, walks with Col. Michael Jernigan, center, chief of staff with Marine Corps Installations East and retired Gunnery Sgt. Raymond Randall, right, junior vice and chaplain for Marine Corps League Onslow County Detachment 262, as the wreath laying commences during the Vietnam Veterans Recognition ceremony on Lejeune Memorial Gardens, Jacksonville, North Carolina, April 30, 2022. The ceremony honors all those who sacrificed while celebrating the accomplishments and perseverance of all Vietnam veterans.

Visit of Secretary Dirk Kempthorne to Yorktown, Virginia to deliver the keynote address at the 225th anniversary celebration of the Battle of Yorktown. Among other dignitaries on hand for the commemorative events were Virginia Senators John Warner and George Allen, former U.S. Army Secretary John Marsh, French Ambassador to the U.S. Jean-David Levitte, and French Defense Minister Michelle Alliot-Marie.

Scenes from the campus of Virginia Tech, sight of a shooting masacre that left 33 people dead

The Cameron University Reserve Officer Training Corps Honor Guard carries the National and State flag across Veterans Grove at Cameron University during the Veterans Day ceremony Nov. 11.

Paratroopers assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division, senoir leaders across the Army, and civillians honor the heroic actions of D-Day at the Airborne Memorial Ceremony in Normandy, France, June 6, 2022. Paratroopers come to Normandy to celebrate the triumph and victory of the 82nd Airborne Division in liberating Normandy from Nazi rule.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu stand for the playing of the U.S. and French national anthems during a bilateral exchange at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., Nov. 30, 2022. (DoD photo by U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Jack Sanders)

Visit of Secretary Dirk Kempthorne to Yorktown, Virginia to deliver the keynote address at the 225th anniversary celebration of the Battle of Yorktown. Among other dignitaries on hand for the commemorative events were Virginia Senators John Warner and George Allen, former U.S. Army Secretary John Marsh, French Ambassador to the U.S. Jean-David Levitte, and French Defense Minister Michelle Alliot-Marie.

Soldiers assigned to 16th Combat Aviation Brigade speak with veterans at the Veterans Plaza dedication in University Place, Wash. on Nov. 11, 2022.

Maryland Governor Bob Ehrlich, Interior Secretary Gale Norton, Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz, and television news anchor Tom Brokaw, left toright, during ceremonies at War Correspondents Memorial, Burkittsville, Maryland, honoring four prominent journalists killed during work in Iraq, Pakistan

Service members from all service branches participate in an Armed Forces Full Honors Wreath-Laying Ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va., Feb. 9, 2023. The wreath was laid by Georgian Defence Minister Juansher Burchuladze.

Lt. Gen. Timothy D. Haugh, incoming Deputy Commander for United States Cyber Command, is briefed on the sequence of events during a Sunset Parade at the Marine Corps War Memorial, Arlington, Va., July 26, 2022. The hosting official for the evening was General Ryan P. Heritage, Commanding General, Marine Corps Forces Cyberspace Command & Marine Corps Space Command. The guest of honor was Lt. Gen. Timothy D. Haugh.

A Marine honor guard salutes as President William Jefferson Clinton places a wreath in the chamber of fallen heroes aboard the ARIZONA (BB-39) Memorial. Adm. Charles R. Larson, commander-in-chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet, stands by at left. Clinton is in Hawaii to tour area military installations. Base: Naval Station, Pearl Harbor State: Hawaii (HI) Country: United States Of America (USA)

2006 Korean War Veterans Armistice Day Ceremony at the Korean War Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C., with Secretary Dirk Kempthorne joining Vice President Dick Cheney and South Koreaa's Ambassador to the U.S., Lee Tae-Sik, among the dignitaries participating

Mr. Vince Speranza, a World War II veteran who served with the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), and U.S. Army Col. James Sadler, U.S. Embassy in the Netherlands defense attache, salute as the national anthems are played during the official ceremony of the 78th year commemoration of Operation Market Garden at Eerde, Netherlands, Sept. 17, 2022. As the Soldiers of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) commemorate Market Garden 78, the 101st will continue to remain committed to collective defense and cooperative security alongside European allies and partners.

(From left to right) Vice President Kamala Karris, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough, and Maj. Gen. Allan M. Pepin, commanding general, Joint Forces Headquarters - National Capital Region and the U.S. Military District of Washington walk through the State and Territorial Cordon during the 69th National Veterans Day Observance at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia, Nov. 11, 2022.

221111-N-XC372-1252 NATIONAL MEMORIAL CEMETARY OF THE PACIFIC-PUNCHBOWL, Hawaii (Nov. 11, 2022) The Honorable David Y. Ige, Governor of the State of Hawaii, bows for a moment of silence during the Oahu Veterans Council Veterans Day Ceremony 2022. The Oahu Veterans Council hosted senior military leaders and government officials for the 103rd annual observance of Veterans Day.

U.S. Air Force Chaplain Jeffrey Kidd, 145th Airlift Wing, inspires hope and peace during the Annual Memorial Wall Dedication Ceremony held at the North Carolina Air National Guard Base, Charlotte Douglas International Airport, April 3, 2022. The Annual Memorial Wall Dedication Ceremony commemorated thirty-three Airmen that served in the North Carolina Air National Guard and passed away during the year 2021.

The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) hosts a ceremony for National POW/MIA Recognition Day at the 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.

U.S. Military Veterans salute the flag while Taps is played during the Memorial Day Ceremony at Kentucky Veterans Cemetery Central in Radcliff, Ky., May 30, 2022. The Military band played Taps in recognition of those, who lost their lives serving their country. | Julia Galli, CST Public Affairs Office.

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.

North Carolina National Guard Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force Col. Allan R. Cecil, addresses friends and family during the annual Memorial Wall Dedication ceremony held at the Charlotte Douglas International Airport base, April 2, 2023. The Memorial Wall Dedication Ceremony allows friends and family members of fallen Airmen to celebrate their legacy. Each fallen Airmen's name is etched into granite stone and family is invited to transpose, via paper, the etchings as keepsakes.

Soldiers of the 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) provide ceremonial support for an Armed Forces Full Honors Wreath-Laying Ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery, Va., Sept. 14, 2022. The wreath was laid by Yasukazu Hamada, Minister of Defence of Japan, and hosted by Maj. Gen. Allan M. Pepin, commanding general, Joint Task Force-National Capital Region, U.S. Army Military District of Washington.

BONY, France - Rear Adm. Michael T. Curran, director of Logistics, Supply and Ordnance at U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa, U.S. Sixth Fleet, left, arrives with Madame Corinne Minot, the representative for the city of Saint-Quentin, during a Memorial Day ceremony to honor the Allied troops that died in the Battle of Saint Quentin Canal at the Somme American Cemetery in Bony, France, May 29, 2022. Headquartered in Naples, Italy, NAVEUR-NAVAF operates U.S. naval forces in the U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) and U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM) areas of responsibility. U.S. Sixth Fleet is permanently assigned to NAVEUR-NAVAF, and employs maritime forces through the full spectrum of joint and naval operations.

President elect Barack Obama and Vice President elect Joe Biden lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknow Soldier at Arlington National Cemetary.

General Boyer, Legion of Merit. Photographs of Marshall Plan Programs, Exhibits, and Personnel

Visit of Secretary Dirk Kempthorne to Yorktown, Virginia to deliver the keynote address at the 225th anniversary celebration of the Battle of Yorktown. Among other dignitaries on hand for the commemorative events were Virginia Senators John Warner and George Allen, former U.S. Army Secretary John Marsh, French Ambassador to the U.S. Jean-David Levitte, and French Defense Minister Michelle Alliot-Marie.

BONY, France - Rear Adm. Michael T. Curran, director of Logistics, Supply and Ordnance at U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa, U.S. Sixth Fleet, delivers remarks during ceremony to commemorate Memorial Day and honor the Allied troops that died in the Battle of Saint Quentin Canal at the Somme American Cemetery in Bony, France, May 29, 2022. Headquartered in Naples, Italy, NAVEUR-NAVAF operates U.S. naval forces in the U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) and U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM) areas of responsibility. U.S. Sixth Fleet is permanently assigned to NAVEUR-NAVAF, and employs maritime forces through the full spectrum of joint and naval operations.

2006 Korean War Veterans Armistice Day Ceremony at the Korean War Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C., with Secretary Dirk Kempthorne joining Vice President Dick Cheney and South Koreaa's Ambassador to the U.S., Lee Tae-Sik, among the dignitaries participating

(From left to right) German Navy Rear Adm. Axel Ristau, defense attaché, German Embassy in DC; Karen Durham-Aguilera, executive director, Office of Army Cemeteries and Army National Military Cemeteries; and Gen. Carsten Breuer, chief of defense, German Armed Forces, view the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va., April 3, 2023. Breuer and Ristau were at ANC to participate in a Public Wreath-Laying Ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

040917-F-2066K-017. Base: Great Falls Air Force Base State: Montana (MT) Country: United States Of America (USA)

930204-D-9880W-003. Base: Pentagon State: District Of Columbia (DC) Country: United States Of America (USA)

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.

000917-N-1110A-506. Base: Norfolk State: Virginia (VA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

220520-N-ED185-1065NAVAL BASE KITSAP - BREMERTON, Wash. (May 20, 2022) The color guard retire the colors during an inactivation ceremony for the Los Angeles-class fast attack submarine USS Oklahoma City (SSN 723) at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility onboard Naval Station Kitsap - Bremerton May 20, 2022. Commissioned July 9, 1988, Oklahoma City is the second Navy vessel to be named after Oklahoma City.

Service members with a joint color guard stand at attention during a ceremony commemorating the 80th Anniversary of the Battle of Guadalcanal at the Guadalcanal American Memorial in the Solomon Islands, Aug. 7, 2022. During the ceremony, military leaders and heads of state from the U.S. and its partner nations honored those who died in the battle and reaffirmed their commitment to fostering a strong relationship with the Solomon Islands and other partner nations to ensure peace in the Indo-Pacific region.

Hellenic Republic of Greece Army General Ioannis Veryvakis, Chief of the Hellenic General Staff, is greeted by U.S. Army General Colin Powell, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

France, Brittany, Saint-Malo on 2022-08-17. On the occasion of the 78th anniversary of the liberation of Saint-Malo, Caroline Cayeux, Minister in charge of Territorial Collectivities, co-presides the commemorative ceremony and inaugurates the fire control post of the City of Alet, restored thanks to the Heritage Foundation. Photograph by Martin Bertrand.France, Bretagne, Saint-Malo le 2022-08-17. A loccasion du 78eme anniversaire de la liberation de Saint-Malo, Caroline Cayeux, ministre deleguee chargee des Collectivites territoriales, co-preside la ceremonie commemorative et inaugure le poste directeur de tir de la Cite dAlet restaure grace a la Fondation du patrimoine. Photographie de Martin Bertrand.

U.S. Marine Corps Col. Mark Bortnem, commanding officer, Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Beaufort, and Sgt. Maj. Bryan Alfaro, sergeant major, MCAS Beaufort, listen to Jared Fralix, assistant administrator of infrastructure, Beaufort County, during the Spanish Moss Trail extension ceremony at Beaufort, South Carolina, Feb. 23, 2024. This ceremony was held to celebrate the replacement of the existing five-foot wide trail with a 10-foot wide concrete path stretching over 3.5 miles. Marine Corps

The Honor Cordon, in preparation for the arrival of the President-elect, William Jefferson Clinton, at the Lady Bird Johnson park prior to the Bell Ringing Ceremony. Base: Washington State: District Of Columbia (DC) Country: United States Of America (USA)

U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Mark H. Landes, Commanding General, First Army Division East, helps the family of Brig. Gen. Kevin J. Lambert, Deputy Commander - Maneuver for the 3rd Infantry Division, pin his new rank on during a promotion ceremony at Fort Stewart, Georgia, Sept. 2, 2022. The deputy commanding general-maneuver advises and assists the commanding general for the division's training and operational readiness. Lambert is a United States Army War College graduate and has deployed to Haiti, Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan.

President Joseph Biden renders honors during a Presidential Armed Forces Full Honors Wreath-Laying Ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va., May 30, 2022. This was part of the 154th National Memorial Day Observance

The U.S. flag is presented to Mary Hill during the funeral service for her grandfather, U.S. Navy Chief Pharmacists Mate James T. Cheshire, in Section 62 of Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va., July 22, 2022. Cheshire died on Dec. 7, 1941 when the battleship he was assigned to, the USS Oklahoma at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, was attacked by Japanese aircraft.From the Defense POW/MIA Account Agency (DPAA) press release:The USS Oklahoma sustained multiple torpedo hits, which caused it to quickly capsize. The attack on the ship resulted in the deaths of 429 crewmen, including Cheshire.From December 1941 to June 1944, Navy personnel recovered the remains of the deceased crew, which were subsequently interred in the Halawa and Nuuanu Cemeteries.In September 1947, tasked with recovering and identifying fallen U.S. personnel in the Pacific Theater, members of the American Graves Registration Service (AGRS) disinterred the remains of U.S. casualties from the two cemeteries and transferr

Event, including wreath-laying ceremony, honoring Interior law enforcement personnel killed in the line of duty, with Secretary Dirk Kempthorne, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Law Enforcement and Security Larry Parkinson, and other officials on hand to speak, pose with law enforcement staff from respective bureaus

The 21st Theater Sustainment Command attends Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial, the Second World War American military war grave cemetery, located just outside Saint-Avold, Moselle, France for the 2022 Memorial Day service. Dedicated in 1960, the cemetery contains the largest number of graves of our military dead of World War II in Europe, totaling more than 10,000.

New Armed Forces Seserve Center & 63rd Regional Support Command Headquarters, Moffett Field, CA ribbon cutting ceremonies.

220911-N-RB168-0479Shankville, Pa. (Sept. 11, 2022) - First Lady Dr. Jill Bidenlays a wreath at the Wall of Names at the Flight 93 National Memorial on the 21st anniversary of 9/11. Biden provided remarks as the keynote speaker for the event. The U.S. Navy sent 22 Sailors from the amphibious transport dock ship USS Somerset (LPD 25) to Somerset County for a multi-day trip to attend the observance, and serve in a uniformed capacity as escorts, honoring the families of the 40 passengers and crew that perished on Flight 93. USS Somerset personnel participated in various service and engagement Community Relations projects (COMRELs) during their trip.

030328-F-5640T-023. Base: Randolph Air Force Base State: Texas (TX) Country: United States Of America (USA)

120501-N-KV696-096WASHINGTON (May 1, 2012) Rear Adm. Patrick Lorge, commandant of Naval District Washington, left, and Australian Ambassador to the United States Kim Beazley lay a wreath during a ceremony at the U.S. Navy Memorial commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Battle of the Coral Sea.

Event, including wreath-laying ceremony, honoring Interior law enforcement personnel killed in the line of duty, with Secretary Dirk Kempthorne, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Law Enforcement and Security Larry Parkinson, and other officials on hand to speak, pose with law enforcement staff from respective bureaus

U.S. Air Force 422nd Security Forces Squadron Defenders prepare to perform a 21-gun salute during a Memorial Day ceremony at the Brookwood American Military Cemetery, England, May 29, 2022. Memorial Day provides us a solemn opportunity to remember our fallen brothers and sisters in arms, reflect upon their courageous sacrifice, and show gratitude for the freedom they gave their lives to defend. It also affords us the opportunity to pay homage to those families who lost their loved ones in service to the Nation-and continue to feel the full weight of that sacrifice today.

Visit of Secretary Dirk Kempthorne to Yorktown, Virginia to deliver the keynote address at the 225th anniversary celebration of the Battle of Yorktown. Among other dignitaries on hand for the commemorative events were Virginia Senators John Warner and George Allen, former U.S. Army Secretary John Marsh, French Ambassador to the U.S. Jean-David Levitte, and French Defense Minister Michelle Alliot-Marie.

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris lay a wreath on Inauguration Day Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021, at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington, Virginia.

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.

French veterans participate as flag bearers during a 1st ID Signal Monument ceremony at St. Laurent Sur Mer, France, June 5, 2022. The ceremony honored the Soldiers from the 29th and 1st Infantry Divisions who landed at Omaha Beach on D-Day, June 6, 1944.

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (May 31, 2022) Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Mike Gilday renders a salute during the funeral service for retired Adm. Thomas B. Hayward, the 21st Chief of Naval Operations. Hayward was born May 3, 1924 in Glendale, California. After serving as an enlisted Sailor during World War II, Hayward attended the U.S. Naval Academy, graduating in 1947. An aviator, he repeatedly served aboard aircraft carriers at sea and in training and test pilot commands ashore. He served as Commander, U.S. Seventh Fleet and then as Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet prior to being named CNO. He passed away on March 3, 2022.

DN-SC-87-10247. Base: Bordeaux Country: France (FRA)

930503-D-9880W-084. Base: Arlington State: Virginia (VA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Visit of Secretary Dirk Kempthorne to Yorktown, Virginia to deliver the keynote address at the 225th anniversary celebration of the Battle of Yorktown. Among other dignitaries on hand for the commemorative events were Virginia Senators John Warner and George Allen, former U.S. Army Secretary John Marsh, French Ambassador to the U.S. Jean-David Levitte, and French Defense Minister Michelle Alliot-Marie.

Secretary Gale Norton speaking at ceremonies at the War Correspondents Memorial, Burkittsville, Maryland, featuring unveiling of plaque honoring fourprominent journalists killed during war and war-related coverage in Iraq and Pakistan

Oklahoma National Guard Soldiers and Airmen salute Governor Kevin Stitt during the 2023 Oklahoma Governor Inauguration at the Oklahoma State Capitol, Oklahoma City, Jan. 9, 2023. Guardsmen worked alongside local state agencies in support of Stitts second inauguration ceremony.

The Air Force Honor Guard carries the casket of Brig. Gen. Charles E. McGee during his funeral at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va., June 17, 2022. McGee, a Tuskegee Airman, died Jan. 16, 2022 at the age of 102. He served 30 years during World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War.

Secretary Gale Norton, center, and Office of Personnel Management Director Kay Coles James, with red overcoat to Norton's right, among officials at Department of Interior South Building ceremony marking adoption by Interior employees of the U.S. Army's 101st Airborne Division and the 10th Mountain Divisionas wartime focal points for volunteer activities on behalf of military families

Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall attends the funeral of Brig. Gen. Charles E. McGee at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va., June 17, 2022. McGee, a Tuskegee Airman, died Jan. 16, 2022 at the age of 102. He served 30 years during World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War.

U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to 4th Infantry Division, U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to 90th Sustainment Brigade color guard, and historian enthusiast volunteers, march in formation to the second monument, June 4, 2022, during the 90th Infantry Division Tribute and 78th Liberation Commemoration Ceremony, at Le Plessis-Lastelle, France. The residents of Le Plessis-Lastelle have erected two monuments to remember the 90th Infantry Division Soldiers that fought and died to liberate the French city during WWII.

Whiteman Air Force Bases Honor Guard Airmen lay the ceremonial wreath during a 9/11 ceremony on Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri Sept. 19, 2022. Whiteman commemorates the events of 9/11 by remembering those who were lost during the attack.

President Ronald Reagan places a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier during a Memorial Day ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery. Base: Arlington State: Virginia (VA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Maj. Gen. John C. Harris, Jr. (right), Ohio adjutant general, and Jon N. Bengtson (left), treasurer of the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP), stand for the National Anthem during the First Shot ceremony for CMPs National Matches, at the Camp Perry Joint Training Center, July 12, 2022. The National Matches is a month-long mix of original CMP matches along with traditional pistol, smallbore, high-power rifle and long-range rifle competitions, attracting hundreds of elite-level pistol and rifle shooters from around the world. (Photo by Spc. Carleeann Smiddy, 196th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment/RELEASED)

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