← Military & Defence

Military Ceremonies and Remembrance

Various ceremonies honoring military service, featuring uniformed personnel, flags, and memorials, set against vibrant decorations and respectful crowds.

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

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.

Forest Service Deputy Chief Tom Thompson speaking at National Public Lands Day ceremony at This Is The Place Heritage Park, Salt Lake City, Utah, honoring members of the American Frontiers--A Public Lands Journey teams trekking on U.S. public lands between Canadian and Mexican borders

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.

Approximately 1,000 veterans, civilians, and Soldiers serving in the Canadian & U.S. Armed Forces gathered in celebration of the 80th anniversary of First Special Service Force at Fort Harrison July 9, 2022.Special Forces Soldiers wearing modern uniforms jumped from Chinook helicopters, while those wearing the World War II-era Paratrooper uniform jumped from a C-47, known as Miss Montana, while a P-40 Warhawk fighter provided escort.Static displays of equipment used by Forcemen were present alongside those used by modern day Soldiers.The 1st Special Service Force was an elite American-Canadian commando unit in World War II, under the command of the United States Fifth Army. The unit was organized in 1942 and trained at Fort William Henry Harrison. The Force fought in Italy and southern France before being disbanded in December 1944. The modern American and Canadian special operations forces trace their heritage to this unit.

Norfolk, Va. (April 6, 2022) - Military Sealift Command personnel walk together during MSCs annual SAPR awareness walk. This annual event is held in support of Sexual Assault Awareness Prevention Month (SAAPM) in order to raise awareness and prevention of sexual assault.

U.S. service members, veterans, friends and families attend the commissioning ceremony of the USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. (DDG 121) at the Port of Charleston, South Carolina, May 14, 2022. The ship was named after the Marine Corps first African American general and aviator. Lt. Gen. Frank E. Petersen Jr. served in the Korean War and the Vietnam War during his career, and his legacy is carried on today as an American hero and an outstanding Marine.

010511-D-5256F-003. Base: Fort Lee State: Virginia (VA) Country: United States Of America (USA) Scene Major Command Shown: MACOMS

SAN ANTONIO, Texas - (Oct. 31, 2022) San Antonio Mayor, The Honorable Ron Nirenberg, presents the official Proclamation during the San Antonio Chamber of Commerces Celebrate Americas Military (CAM) 52nd Opening Ceremony held at the citys famed Alamo Plaza.

Events, attended by Secretary Gale Norton, marking the opening of the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial interagency traveling exhibit, Corps of Discovery II, on the National Mall, Washington, D.C.

U.S. Army National Guard Soldiers with Company A, 1-118th Infantry Battalion, South Carolina National Guard, stand in formation during a deployment ceremony at the Moncks Corner Armory in Moncks Corner, South Carolina, Aug. 7, 2022. More than 130 Soldiers from the unit will be mobilized for approximately a year to support Operation Spartan Shield, Task Force Spartan and U.S. Army Central Command.

DETROIT, Mich. - A Veteran at the 17th annual Veterans Day parade gives the opening speech on November 6, 2022. The Veterans Day Parade is known as the Armed Services Salute, honoring service from veterans, active military, and community volunteers with a motto of Inspiring patriotism through community service. (Army Reserve photo by Pfc. Joseph Honce, 220th Public Affairs Detachment). The Armed Service Salute is and has always been a celebration of Michigan's Veterans, active military, civilian community support, and the authentic patriotism inspired by that collaboration. This event solidifies trust and solidarity between the community and the Armed Services. The Armed Service Salute is a patriotic Veterans Day celebration in Corktown, Detroit, anchored at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers local NO. 58 Union Hall (IBEW).

Day of Remembrance 2023. Sheryl Chafee, Astronauts Memorial Foundation (AMF) Board of Directors chairperson, center, accompanied by NASA Associate Administrator Bob Cabana, and Kennedy Space Director Janet Petro, lay a wreath in front of the Space Mirror Memorial during the Day of Remembrance on Jan. 26, 2023, at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida. The event honored the crews of Apollo 1 and space shuttles Challenger and Columbia, as well as other astronauts who lost their lives in the pursuit of spaceflight. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Columbia tragedy. This years ceremony was hosted by the AMF, which was founded after the shuttle Challenger accident in 1986 to honor the sacrifices of fallen astronauts each year.

Col. Kandace Daffin, 2nd Brigade Army ROTC Commander, and the Fortunato family, Judy (middle) and Carol Fotunato reveal a monument honoring Sgt. Maj. (Ret.) Gary P. Fortunato, marking the dedication of the Sgt. Maj. Gary Fortunato Training Complex at Fort Knox, Ky., June 21, 2022. Sgt. Maj. Fortunato retired in 1997 after 30 years of service, he continued to serve as a contract Army ROTC instructor at Providence College for the next 23 years until his untimely death in April 2020. During his time with Army ROTC, Fortunato taught more than 575 Cadets at the military-science II level, participated in 46 field training exercises, over 500 color guard ceremonies and coached over 38,000 Cadets through the Confidence Course at Cadet Summer Training. | Photo by Kyle Crawford, U.S. Army Cadet Command Public Affairs

Events, attended by Secretary Gale Norton, marking the opening of the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial interagency traveling exhibit, Corps of Discovery II, on the National Mall, Washington, D.C.

220729-N-FO865-1094NAVAL BASE SAN DIEGO (July 29, 2022) - Dr. Bernice Alota, wife of Commanding Officer Capt. Gervy Alotas, remarks on her husbands time on the ship during the change of command ceremony aboard USS John P. Murtha (LPD 26), July 29. John P. Murtha is San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship homeported in San Diego, CA.

NEW YORK (Oct. 2, 2012) Maureen Murphy, ship sponsor for the guided-missile destroyer Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) Michael Murphy (DDG 112), rings the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange with the ship's commanding officer, Cmdr. Thomas Shultz, and members of the crew. Maureen Murphy is the mother of Medal of Honor recipient Lt. (SEAL) Michael Murphy, for whom the ship is named. The ship and its crew are in New York preparing for the ship's commissioning ceremony Oct. 6.

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.

Visit of Secretary Dirk Kempthorne to the Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C., to view Marine Corps Evening Parade, deliver remarks, and attend reception at the site, a National Historic Landmark

U.S. Navy Capt. Aaron Kelly commodore, Amphibious Squadron Six, engages with media during a press conference in Klaipeda, Lithuania, Aug. 22, 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.

110713-N-DX698-036WASHINGTON (July 13, 2011) Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) the Honorable Ray Mabus and Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. James F. Amos view the Department of the Navy tribute to African American Leadership display at the Pentagon.

Officers of the guided missile destroyer USS Mitscher (DDG-57) dash across the dock to man the rails during the commissioning ceremonies of their ship at the naval air station. Base: Naval Air Station, Pensacola State: Florida (FL) Country: United States Of America (USA)

California State Guard Lt. Col. Charles Kim, staff judge advocate for Allied Maritime Command, is awarded the California Medal of Merit for his service to the 79th Infantry Brigade Combat Team during XCTC-2021 at Kearny Mesa Armory, Calif., on June 5, 2022. Kim's wife, Virginia, also received a brigade coin and applause from Headquarters and Headquarters Company for her continued support as a spouse to the mission of service to California. (U.S. Army photos by Sgt. Simone Lara)

060527-N-9543M-004. Base: New York State: New York (NY) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Distinguished guests unveil a Virginia Historical Marker honoring Filipino Sailors in the U.S. Navy on May 28, 2022. The event occurred at the Philippine Cultural Center of Virginia in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

ADM Thomas Joseph Lopez (USN), Allied Forces Southern Europe, US Naval Forces Europe, Commander IFOR, speaks, from behind a lectern, at the official Slavonski Brod Road Bridge re-opening ribbon cutting ceremony about the cooperative effort by Hungarian Army Engineers, Croatian Army personnel, Royal Army (British) personnel, and a civilian contractor to reopen the bridge for official IFOR business travel, and later general all purpose travel, during Operation Joint Endeavor. Various military personnel are seen in the background observing the ceremony. Operation Joint Endeavor is a peacekeeping effort by a multinational Implementation Force (IFOR), comprised of NATO and non-NATO military.... Complete Scene Caption: ADM Thomas Joseph Lopez (USN), Allied Forces Southern Europe, US Naval Forces Europe, Commander IFOR, speaks, from behind a lectern, at the official Slavonski Brod Road Bridge re-opening ribbon cutting ceremony about the cooperative effort by Hungarian Army Engineers, Croati

220419-N-KB401-1116 PEARL HARBOR April 19, 2022 Cmdr. Douglas Pratt, from Nashua, New Hampshire, gives remarks during a change of command ceremony for the Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS Tucson (SSN 770) outside the Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, April 19. Cmdr. Adam Matthews, from Livingston, Wisconsin, relieved Pratt as Tucsons commanding officer at the ceremony.

Presentation of the 1961 Harmon International Trophy for Aviators, 12:00PM. Major Robert M. White presents President John F. Kennedy with a model of the X-15 aircraft at the presentation of the 1961 Harmon International Trophy for Aviators to Major White, A. Scott Crossfield and Joseph A. Walker. (L-R) Thomas Scott Crossfield and Paul Scott Crossfield (sons of A. Scott Crossfield); Joseph V. Charyk, Under Secretary of the Air Force; President Kennedy; A. Scott Crossfield; Joseph A. Walker; Alexander P. de Seversky; Major White; Colonel Ansel E. Talbert; Colonel Bernt Balchen; William E. Schramek; unidentified man. Fish Room, White House, Washington, D.C.

221207-N-PX557-0378HARRISBURG, Pa.(Dec. 07, 2022)Rear Adm. Peter Stamatopoulos, Commander, Naval Supply Systems Command/Chief of Supply Corps, provides guest speaker remarks during the 81st Anniversary Pearl Harbor Remembrance Ceremony at the Pennsylvania State Capitol, Dec. 7. Sailors and Marines from across central Pennsylvania participated in the ceremony to honor families of the attack on Pearl Harbor and Pennsylvania Pearl Harbor survivor, Army Staff Sgt. Richard Schimmel. U.S. Navy photo by James E. Foehl (Released)

031114-M-5325O-031. Mrs. Joan Dawson receives cased colors for 4th Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment, during the dedication ceremony for an artillery gun park in Camp Lejeune, NC. The park is named after her brother USMC Private First Class (PFC) Harold C. Agerholm, 4th Battalion, 10th Marines, 2nd Marine Division, who received the Medal of Honor posthumously during World War II for action against Japanese forces on Saipan and rescuing forty-five casualties under heavy enemy fire.

Scott Hardiman, from left, program executive officer, Nuclear Command, Control and Communications, Col. Katrina Stephens, installation commander, and Chief Master Sgt. William Hebb, installation command chief, participate in the Concord Patriots' Day Parade in Concord, Mass., April 18. The parade commemorated the events of April 19, 1775.

Visit of Secretary Gale Norton, members of the Flight 93 National Memorial Federal Advisory Commission, and other dignitaries to the Flight 93 crash site, near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Norton swore in the members of the Commission, planning the permanent memorial honoring passengers and crew of the planehijacked on September 11, 2001

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.

Inter-American Defense College Staff, Faculty and Students tour Gettysburg National Military Park, Gettysburg, Pa., Sept. 23, 2022. The Park protects and interprets the landscape of the 1863 Battle of Gettysburg during the American Civil War. There are 43,000 American Civil War artifacts that are displayed in the Gettysburg Museum and Visitor Center. The Visit It is an academic field study that is part of the master's program offered by the college.

The 2nd Brigade, 78th Training Division, 84th Training Command recognized Soldiers and their families with a special retirement ceremony, September 17, 2022 at Naval Station Newport, Rhode Island. The careers of 69 Soldiers who honorably served their country with duty, selfless service and devotion were celebrated. Rhode Island Senator Jack Reed was a guest speaker among several VIPs at the ceremony.

220520-N-ED185-1082NAVAL BASE KITSAP - BREMERTON, Wash. (May 20, 2022) Kevin Reardon, the first commanding officer of the Los Angeles-class fast attack submarine USS Oklahoma City, speaks during an inactivation ceremony for the boat 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.

Col. Chris Thomas, commander of the 154th Regiment Regional Training Institute, thanks U.S. Congressman Steven Palazzo during the groundbreaking ceremony at Camp Shelby Joint Forces Training Center, Mississippi, Oct. 14, 2022. With the approved expansion by U.S. Congressman Steven Palazzo, representing Mississippis 4th Congressional District, it will provide over 52,000 square feet to meet timely mission requirements for precision, sustainment, and readiness in theater operations around the globe.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - TURRET HOMECOMING USS MONITOR

Ms. Linda Fazldeen, the master of ceremonies, welcomes the crowd to the Battle of the Coral Sea Commemorative Service in Darwin, NT, Australia, May 7, 2022. The ceremony was held commemorating those who lost their lives during the battle.

United States Representative Anna G. Esho, of the 14th Congressional District, California speaks to World War II veteran and former Army Air Corps Lieutenant Richard Hank Sciaroni at Moffett Federal Airfield, Mountain View, California. Rep. Eshoo was instrumental in the effort to award LT. Sciaroni the Bronze Star for his actions during the war. LT. Sciaronis was a navigator on a B-24 that was shot down over Germany, he lead three of his fellow air crew member to safety after more than two weeks behind enemy lines. LT. Sciaroni was never awarded the medal because of interruptions in his chain of command and deaths of senior officers involved. The Representative, in a ceremony at the 129th.... Complete Scene Caption: United States Representative Anna G. Esho, of the 14th Congressional District, California speaks to World War II veteran and former Army Air Corps Lieutenant Richard Hank Sciaroni at Moffett Federal Airfield, Mountain View, California. Rep. Eshoo was instrumental in the e

Distinguished unveil a Virginia Historical Marker honoring Filipino Sailors in the U.S. Navy on May 28, 2022. The event occurred at the Philippine Cultural Center of Virginia in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Inter-American Defense College Leadership welcomedAssistant Director Eric Talbot, Office of National Drug Control Policy and other guests for a speaking engagement atthe IADC Campus on Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C., Jan. 24, 2023. Mr. Talbot spoke with students from class 62 about the United States' efforts to save lives by reducing drug overdose deaths, drug use, and associated harms. Additionally, students had the opportunity to engage with the Office of National Drug Control Policy team during a question and answers session.

061013-N-3642E-009. Base: New York City State: New York (NY) Country: United States Of America (USA) Scene Major Command Shown: SECNAV

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.

Foreign Affairs Day 2005 ceremonies, speeches, award presentations. Events included a 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. AFSA President John Limbert, Under Secretary for Political Affairs R. Nicholas Burns, and other officials delivered remarks, as three new entries on the plaque the names of James Mollen and Edward Seitz, of U.S. Embassy Baghdad, and John O'Grady, of U.S. Consulate in Brisbane were unveiled.

Inter-American Defense College Leadership Welcomes Major-Brigadeiro do Ar Edson Fernando da Costa Guimaraes Outgoing Chief of Delegation of Brazil and General de Brigada Giovani Moretto Incoming Chief of Delegation of Brazil to the IADC on Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C., July 18, 2022. During the visit, the guest conducted an office call with IADC Leadership, received an IADC brief, and concluded the visit with a tour of the campus with.

A new helicopter training landing pad at Muir Army Airfield is dedicated to Chief Warrant Officer 3 Matthew Ruffner and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Jarett Yoder during a ceremony in the Aviation Maintenance Instruction Building here.The two pilots were killed April 9, 2013 when the AH-64 Apache helicopter they were flying crashed during a flight mission in Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan. They were serving on a combat deployment with Bravo Company, 1-104th Attack Reconnaissance Battalion, 28th Combat Aviation Brigade during Operation Enduring Freedom.

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.

Coastguardsmen and members of the public attend a change of command ceremony for Coast Guard Sector Los Angeles-Long Beach, San Pedro, California, June 21, 2022. Rear Admiral Brian Penoyer, Coast Guard District Eleven commander presided over over the change of command and Rear Admiral Rebecca Ores promotion ceremony.

From left, Lake Superior State University President Dr. Rodney S. Handley, U.S. Senator Gary Peters, Assistant Commandant for Response Policy Rear Adm. Jo-Ann Burdian, and Sault Ste. Marie Mayor Don Gerrie combine to cut the ribbon on the Coast Guard's new Great Lakes Center of Expertise Aug. 24, 2022. The center, which will research freshwater oil spills and help develop effective responses, is headquartered at Lake Superior State University in Sault Ste. Marie, with an additional office in Ann Arbor. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Chief Petty Officer John Masson.

Visit of Secretary Dirk Kempthorne to the Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C., to view Marine Corps Evening Parade, deliver remarks, and attend reception at the site, a National Historic Landmark

Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources Heather Higginbottom and Principal Officer John Espinoza pose for a photo with new Marine Security Guards at the U.S. Consulate in Adana, Turkey, on March 21, 2014.

Secretary Gale Norton and National Park Service's Marie Rust, right, with Flight 93 National Memorial sign, on occasion of the swearing in of the Flight 93 National Memorial Federal Advisory Commission. Event was at site of temporary memorial, near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, honoring passengers and crew ofplane hijacked on September 11, 2001

030519-F-5127B-001. Base: Macdill Air Force Base State: Florida (FL) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Hanke Bruins Slot (far right), minister of interior and kingdom affairs, Netherlands and others view the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va., Sept. 28, 2022.

September 11th remembrance ceremony held in front of NASA Research Park Bldg-17 (Lunar Science Institute) hosted by the American Legion, Post 881, Moffett Field. Step off to Amazing Grace - POW/MIA Detail; TSgt Robert Soua, Detail Commander, 129th Security Forces, TSgt Rachel Velasco, SSgt Susan Avalos, SSgt Alex Cohen, SSgt Elias Gonzalez

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, joined by Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley, tour the African Americans in service corridor Wednesday, Feb. 10. 2021, at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia.

Soldiers across Camp Arifjan in Kuwait attended a Memorial Day ceremony hosted by Area Support Group - Kuwait on Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, May 30, 2022.

020922-F-4649H-007. Subject Operation/Series: NORTHERN WATCH Base: Incirlik Air Base, Adana Country: Turkey (TUR) Scene Major Command Shown: ACC

National Park Service's Joanne Hanley and Marie Rust, and Secretary Gale Norton, left to right, with Flight 93 National Memorial sign, on occasion ofthe swearing in of the Flight 93 National Memorial Federal Advisory Commission. Event was held at site of temporary memorial, near Shanksville, Pennsylvania,honoring passengers and crew of hijacked plane

Firefighter Captain Bradley Wright, South Berkeley County Station 20, speaks at the bridge dedication ceremony for the U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Logan A. Young Memorial Bridge, Dec. 3, 2022. Wright drafted the resolution the led to the bridge renaming.

U.S. Marine Corps Col. Mark Bortnem, commanding officer, Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Beaufort, Sgt. Maj. Bryan Alfaro, sergeant major, MCAS Beaufort, and local community members partake in a groundbreaking ceremony for the Spanish Moss Trail extension 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

U.S. Army in Hawaii and the Indo-Pacific Update

U.S. Army Daniel Benken, Operations Officer assigned to 1st Battalion, 120th Infantry Regiment, 30th Armored Brigade Combat Team and Command Sgt. Maj Jason Stewart unveil the new aromory sign of the National Guard Readiness Center 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.

TARAWA, Kiribati (Oct. 23, 2012) Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) Ray Mabus participated in a wreath laying ceremony at the U.S. War Memorial at the site of the 1943 Battle of Tarawa. Mabus visited the Republic of Kiribati as part of a multi-day trip to several Pacific nations to enhance U.S. relations throughout the region. The U.S. Navy has a 237-year heritage of defending freedom and projecting and protecting U.S. interests around the globe. Join the conversation on social media using #warfighting.

The honorable Ricardo J. Bordallo, governor of Guam, speaks at the Congressional Medal of Honor Monument dedication ceremony. The monument was erected to honor four Marines for heroism during World War II. They are Captain Louis Wilson, Jr., Private First Class (PFC) Leonard Mason, PFC Luther Skaggs and PFC Frank Witek. Base: Paseo De Susana State: Guam (GU) Country: Northern Mariana Islands (MNP)

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken delivers remarks at the Toys for Tots ceremonial presentation, at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. on December 21, 2021.

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken delivers remarks at the Toys for Tots ceremonial presentation, at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. on December 21, 2021.

Retired senior leaders from Naval Intelligence attended ONIs inaugural Brain Trust Day, passing on their knowledge and experiences to the current workforce. Attending the event were Adm. Bobby Inman (not pictured), Adm. Bill Studeman, Vice Adm. Jake Jacoby, Vice Adm. Bob Murrett, Vice Adm. Bob Sharp, Vice Adm. Tom Wilson, Rear Adm. Paul Becker, Rear Adm. Tom Brooks, Rear Adm. Ann Gilbride, Rear Adm. Rose LeVitre, Rear Adm. Rick Porterfield, Rear Adm. Elizabeth Train, Rear Adm. Tony Cothron, Ms. Tish Long, Mr. Rich Haver, Ms. Terry Roberts, Ms. Lynn Wright, Capt. Tom Bortmes, Capt. Jim Everett, and Capt. J. Todd Ross.

DA-SC-89-07793. Base: Fort Ritchie State: Maryland (MD) Country: United States Of America (USA)

U.S. Marines and Sailors with 3rd Marine Logistics Group celebrate the 247th U.S. Navy Birthday at Camp Kinser, Okinawa, Japan, Oct. 7, 2022. This years Navy birthday theme of, "On Watch - 24/7 for 247 Years," highlighted the Navy's enduring ability to remain fully ready to respond to and effectively deter emergent threats. 3d MLG, based out of Okinawa, Japan, is a forward deployed combat unit that serves as III MEFs comprehensive logistics and combat service support backbone for operations throughout the Indo-Pacific area of responsibility.

Members of the 501st Combat Support Wing and the local community gather at RAF Welfords Memorial Grove for a memorial service March 31, 2023. Annually on the anniversary of the Nuremberg Raid, a joint U.S. and U.K. wreath laying ceremony takes place, memorializing the multinational 101st Squadron crew that perished during a crash March 31, 1944 upon returning from Germany.

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

U.S. Marine Corps Maj. General Jay Bargeron, 3d Marine Division Commanding General, speaks with veterans of The Fighting Third at the 3d Marine Division Association banquet honoring the Divisions 80th Anniversary in San Diego, California, Sept. 17, 2022. The 3d Marine Division was activated at Camp Elliot, San Diego, Sept. 16, 1942 and has taken part in combat operations from World War II and Vietnam through Iraq and Afghanistan. The current Marines of 3d Marine Division continue to build on this legacy today as a critical part of the stand-in force within the first island chain of the Indo-Pacific.

USAF Brigadier General David L. Johnson (right), 43rd Airlift Wing Commander, Mr. Locke McKnight (center), Vice President of McKnight Construction Company, and US Army Lieutenant Colonel David Bender, US Army Corps of Engineers, participate in the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new junior enlisted housing area located at Pope Air Force Base, North Carolina. Mrs. Linda Poore, Pope AFB Housing Management Office director, watches from the doorway of the newly completed house. Base: Pope Air Force Base State: North Carolina (NC) Country: United States Of America (USA)

040605-N-0247F-001. Base: Groton Shipyard State: Connecticut (CT) Country: United States Of America (USA)

National Park Service's Joanne Hanley, left, and Secretary Gale Norton with Flight 93 National Memorial sign, on occasion of the swearing in of the Flight 93 National Memorial Federal Advisory Commission. Event was held at site of temporary memorial, near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, honoring passengers andcrew of plane hijacked on September 11, 2001

Vice Adm. Daniel Dwyer, commander, U.S. 2nd Fleet, David Cohen, U.S. Ambassador to Canada, and Vice Adm. Angus Topshee, commander, Royal Canadian Navy, cut a ceremonial cake in the hangar bay of the first-in-class aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) during its first International port visit, Oct. 29, 2022. The Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group (GRFCSG) is deployed in the Atlantic Ocean, conducting training and operations alongside NATO Allies and partners to enhance integration for future operations and demonstrate the U.S. Navys commitment to a peaceful, stable and conflict-free Atlantic region.

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

BETHESDA, Md (Jan. 8, 2024) - Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro names the future USNS Bethesda (EMS 1), the lead ship of the new EMS class, during a ceremony at Walter Reed National Military Medical Centers National Intrepid Center of Excellence. The naming honors the legacy of healthcare support from the professionals that make up Naval Support Activity Bethesda and the formerly named National Navy Medical Center Bethesda.

Eddie Lee Pendleton, Gale Pendleton Spagnolo, and Lesta Vogel, the great grandchildren of Maj. Gen. Joseph H. Pendleton, pose for a photo next to the Maj. Gen. Joseph H. Pendeltons monument on Camp Pendleton, California, Dec. 1, 2022. Camp Pendleton unveiled a historical monument dedicated to Pendleton for his efforts to establish a permanent Marine Corps presence in Southern California.... the good weather and proximity of the harbor to the new Panama Canal makes San Diego a natural choice as a base for the Marine Corps Advanced Base Force to be stationed on the West Coast, said Col. Joseph H. Pendleton.

Jobi (Stumpf) Spolum, management analyst with the Fort McCoy Plans, Analysis, and Information Office, holds the Medal of Honor certificate May 24, 2022, at Fort McCoy, Wis., that was presented to her father, retired Sgt. Maj. Kenneth E. Stumpf, by President Lyndon Johnson in 1968. Spolum is a 22-year U.S. Army employee a Fort McCoy.

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.

of 2