← Military & Defence

Military Honors Ceremonies

Images of ceremonial events at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, showcasing military precision, respect, and tribute to fallen soldiers.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and Republic of Marshall Islands President David Kabua engage in a bilateral exchange at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., Sept. 27, 2022. (DoD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Alexander Kubitza)

The 1st Armored Division's Color guard salutes the flag during the national anthem at the El Paso Chamber of Commerce's State of the Military event August 4, 2022 held at the Paso del Norte Hotel. This is event is usually held annually, but has not occurred since 2019 due to COVID-19 restrictions.

U.S. Army Reserve Brig. Gen. Scott Linton, deputy commanding general-readiness, 88th Readiness Division, administers the Oath of Office to 13 cadets and a warrant officer during the Eagle Battalion Army ROTC UWL, WSU and VU Spring Commissioning ceremony at Riverside Park in La Crosse, Wis., May 14, 2022.

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.

U.S. Army General Colin Powell (left), Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, U.S. Army Commander of Troops, and Gen. Klaus Naumann, German Inspector General of the Bundeswehr (Unified Armed Forces of Germany), inspects and reviews the troops.

Event honoring the 186th birthday of Ulysses S. Grant, at the General Grant National Memorial, New York City, New York, with Secretary Dirk Kempthorne delivering remarks and joining participating dignitaries incluiding U.S. Army Brigadier General Robert Caslen, Commandant of the Corps of Cadets at the U.S. Military Academy; Adrian Benepe, New York City Commissioner of the Department of Parks and Recreation; Maria Burks, Commissioner of the National Parks of New York Harbor; and Ulysses Grant Dietz, the great-great grandson of General Grant. Also on hand for the event, featuring a wreath-laying ceremony, were members of the U.S. Military Academy Corps of Cadets Honor Guard.

U.S. Army Spc. William J. Doyle, left, 104th Brigade Engineer Battalion, receives an urn containing the cremains of a veteran while Sgt. Bless E. Sherrill, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 44th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, both with the New Jersey Army National Guard, is presented an American flag during the 38th New Jersey Mission of Honor (NJMOH) ceremony at the Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery at Wrightstown, New Jersey, Sept. 15, 2022. The cremains of World War I U.S. Army veterans Verna W. Hanway and Hans Lauritson; World War II U.S. Army veterans John Countryman, Robert L. Mabee, Albert T Whiteside, Jr., Elmer A. Willis and World War II U.S. Marine Corps veteran Peter Truszkowski, were honored during the ceremony. Some of these cremains had gone unclaimed for as long as 59 years. NJMOHs mission is to identify, retrieve, and intern the veterans cremains. (New Jersey National Guard photo by Mark C. Olsen)

040915-F-0201C-015. Base: Aviano Air Base State: Pordenone Country: Italy (ITA)

(From left to right) The Chief of the Romanian Air Force Staff Lt. Gen. Viorel Pana, Air Force District of Washington Commander Maj. Gen. Joel Jackson, Office of Army Cemeteries and Army National Military Cemeteries Executive Director Karen Durham-Aguilera walk through the Memorial Amphitheater at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va., June 27, 2023. Pana was at ANC to participate in an Air Force Full Honors Wreath-Laying Ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff U.S. Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, speaks as Dr. Jill Biden listens at the First Anniversary of Joining Forces ceremony on the south lawn of the White House, April 11, 2012. Joining Forces, pioneered by First Lady Michelle Obama and Jill Biden, is a national initiative that mobilizes all sectors of society to support military members and families.

Straight on medium long shot as US Army General Eric K. Shinseki (Not shown), Commander of Stabilization Force (SFOR), relinquished his command to US Army General Montgomery C. Meigs (Not shown), the commander of the U.S. Army combined Arms Center and Fort Leavenworth. Forty nations supporting Operation Joint Forge, participated in the change of command on the Ilidza Compound in Sarajevo, Bosnia. US Army General Wesley K. Clark (not shown), the Supreme Allied Commander of Europe, and Mr. Sergio Balanzino (Not shown), NATO Deputy Secretary General, were the guest speakers for the ceremony. Subject Operation/Series: JOINT FORGE Base: Sarajevo Country: Bosnia And/I Herzegovina (BIH)

WASHINGTON (July 29, 2014) Republic of Korea Adm. Hwang Ki-Chul and his staff salute the colors during a wreath laying ceremony at the Korean War Memorial. Ki-Chul met with U.S. Navy leadership and visited several commands during his trip to the United States.

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

French CHIEF of Naval Operations ADM Lannuzel, third from left, salutes John F. Kennedy's grave site. Base: Arlington National Cemetery State: Virginia (VA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Service members, veterans, family members, and distinguished visitors take a moment of silence at the conclusion of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs Veterans Day ceremony held at the National Guard Armory on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Nov. 11, 2022. The ceremony included speeches from key speakers, Fallen Warrior ceremony, presentation of commemorative wreaths, and moment of silence for those who have fallen. (Alaska National Guard photo by Victoria Granado)

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.

(From left to right): Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth; Maj. Gen. Allan M. Pepin, commanding general, Joint Task Force -National Capital Region and the U.S. Army Military District of Washington; Karen Durham-Aguilera, executive director, Army National Military Cemeteries; Command Sgt. Maj. Charles Albertson, executive officer, Sergeant Major of the Army; and Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. James McConville; walk through the Memorial Amphitheater at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va., June 14, 2022. Wormuth, McConville, and Albertson were at ANC to participate in an Army Full Honors Wreath-Laying at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in recognition of the U.S. Armys Birthday. The U.S. Armys legacy has been built over 247 years on the dedication, courage, and heroism of every American soldier. We honor all who have answered the call since the Armys founding in 1775.

020326-F-9032T-009. Base: RAF Lakenheath State: East Anglia Country: England / Great Britain (ENG) Scene Major Command Shown: USAFE

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III stands with Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal during the rendering of honors and playing of each country's national anthems prior to a bilateral exchange meeting at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., April 12, 2023.

DD-ST-89-03776. Base: Washington State: District Of Columbia (DC) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Soldiers assigned to the 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard), participate in a Joint Armed Forces Color Guard presentation during an Armed Forces Full Honors Wreath-laying ceremony, Sept. 15, 2022, at the grave sit of 27th President of the United States, William H. Taft, in Arlington National Cemetery, Va. During the ceremony, hosted by Karen Durham-Aguilera, executive director, Army National Military Cemeteries, Maj. Gen. John H. Phillips, Military Deputy to Deputy Chief of Staff, G6, (IMA) laid a wreath to commemorate Tafts 165th birthday. (U.S. Army photos by Sgt. Laura Stephens)

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III stands with Georgian Defense Minister Juansher Burchuladze prior to a bilateral exchange at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., Feb. 9, 2023.

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.

Members of the U.S. Army Drill Team, 4th Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment, perform during Army Day at the Alamo in downtown San Antonio, Texas, April 5, 2022. Army Day at the Alamo honors the culture of Army commands that support Joint Base San Antonio and the surrounding areas. Joint Base San Antonio honors the long-standing partnership between the U.S. military and San Antonio in annual Fiesta events, which commemorate Texas independence after the Battle of San Jacinto and the Alamo.

Ann Washburn Lord, the 5th great granddaughter of Private Oliver Barrett, receives an American Flag in his honor from Captain Eric Sampson of the New York National Guard Honor Guard during military honors for the dedication of a memorial stone for Barrett at the Saratoga National Cemetery on October 19, 2022. Barrett volunteered as a Minuteman and died serving under the 10th Massachusetts Regiment in the Battle of Saratoga on October 7, 1777, at 51 years of age. Barrett lies in an unmarked grave on the Saratoga Battlefield and was honored with a memorial stone at the ceremony. (U. S. Army National Guard photo by SSG Matthew Gunther)

On Dec. 5, 2022, the USACE Charleston District gathered with stakeholders to celebrate the completion of the Charleston Harbor Post 45 Deepening Project. With the final pull of a lever and radio call to the dredge, officials marked the end of this decade-long project. The Post 45 project deepened Charleston Harbor to a depth of 52 feet, allowing the largest container ships in the world to use the port at any time and any tide. In attendance at the ceremony was the Charleston District Leadership team, Post 45 Project Delivery Team, South Atlantic Division Commander Brigadier General Daniel Hibner, CEO of the SC Ports Authority Barbara Melvin, Congresswomen Nancy Mace, US Senator Tim Scott, US Senator Lindsey Graham, and SC Governor Henry McMaster.

U.S. Air Force Col. Henry R. Jeffress, III, 8th Fighter Wing Commander, prepares to lay flowers on grave alongside distinguished guests during a Republic of Korea Memorial Day ceremony at Gunsan City, Republic of Korea, June 6, 2022. Wolfpack leaders are devoted to bolstering partnerships with the local community by participating in cultural ceremonies. (U.S. Air Force photos by Senior Airman Shannon Braaten)

U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Ricky Rupp, left, U.S. Forces Japan and Fifth Air Force commander, and U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Nicholas Evans, right, 18th Wing commander, salute the U.S. flag during the singing of the U.S. national anthem at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Jan. 30, 2024. Evans is a command pilot with over 2,400 hours in the F-16 and F-35, as well as a graduate of the U.S. Air Force F-16 Weapons Instructor Course.

Office of the Administrator (Stephen L. Johnson) - September 11th Ceremony , Environmental Protection Agency

021117-A-6173R-001. Base: Fort Meade State: Maryland (MD) Country: United States Of America (USA) Scene Major Command Shown: Northeast

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

Brig. Gen. Mark Holler, Eighth Army deputy commanding general - operations, walks to the Monument for Patriotic Heroes at Boramae Park in front of Daejeon City Hall July 19, 2022.

U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr., walks with Air Chief Marshal Sir Mike Wigston, Royal Air Force Chief of the Air Staff, prior to the Global Air and Space Chiefs Conference in London, England, July 13, 2022. The conference brought together air and space power leaders, industry, and academia to focus on maintaining an edge over potential adversaries.

Veterans Day Ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery, 11:00AM. President John F. Kennedy (assisted by Sergeant Allen Eldredge) lays a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier during Veterans Day ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. Military officials at left include: Military Aide to the President, General Chester V. Clifton; Air Force Aide to the President, Brigadier General Godfrey T. McHugh; Naval Aide to the President, Captain Tazewell Shepard; Commandant of the United States Marine Corps, General David M. Shoup; President of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Luther Skaggs, Jr.; Commanding General of the Military District of Washington, Major General Philip C. Wehle. Also pictured: Assistant Press Secretary, Malcolm Kilduff; White House Secret Service agents, Emory Roberts and Jack Ready.

040319-M-9362G-004. Base: Magtftc, Twentynine Palms State: California (CA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Gourbesville celebrates the 82nd Airborne Divisions contributions to the liberation of Normandy in Picauville, France, June 1, 2022. U.S. Army Col. Richard Taylor of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Abn. Div., provided remarks in celebration of the 78th Anniversary of the Normandy invasion.

Kiran Ahuja (center), director, U.S. Office of Personnel Management, and Dennis McMahon (left), personnel security specialist, U.S. Office of Personnel Management, participate in a Public Wreath-laying Ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va., Dec. 1, 2022.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry adjusts the ribbon of the wreath he presented at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier before observing a moment of silence near the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, on May 7, 2013.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and U.K. Defense Secretary Ben Wallace stand for the U.S. national anthem during a bilateral meeting at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., May 11, 2022.

030625-F-3478C-003. Base: Kirtland Air Force Base State: New Mexico (NM) Country: United States Of America (USA) Scene Major Command Shown: AFMC

DA-ST-88-05123. Base: Arlington State: Virginia (VA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Expedition 65 prime and backup crew members rare seen just after raising the flags of Russia, the United States, and Kazakhstan, Sunday, March 28, 2021, in traditional ceremonies outside the Cosmonaut Hotel in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. From left to right, Expedition 65 prime crew members, NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei, Russian cosmonauts Oleg Novitskiy of Roscosmos and Pyotr Dubrov of Roscosmos, and Expedition 65 backup crew members NASA astronaut Anne McClain, and Russian cosmonauts Anton Shkaplerov of Roscosmos, and Oleg Artemyev of Roscosmos. The prime crew is scheduled to launch to the International Space Station on a Soyuz rocket April 9.

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.

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Dylan Zuber, 14th Flying Training Wing ceremonial guardsman, performs duties during a Memorial Day ceremony, May 26, 2022, on Columbus Air Force Base, Miss. The base Honor Guard provides services for observances, such as funerals, retirements, and other formal events.

US President Joe Biden, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Army Gen. Mark A. Milley, and his wife Hollyanne Milley attend a wreath-laying ceremony at the National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial, on Sept. 11, 2022, at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.

Alar Karis, president of Estonia, lights Saaremaa county's torch during the Victory Day parade at Kuressaare, Saaremaa, Estonia, June 23, 2022. Victory Day is an Estonian national holiday commemorating their victory over Baltic-German forces at the Battle of Vonnu in 1919, marking a turning point in the Estonian War of Independence.

Acting Secretary P. Lynn Scarlett and other Interior senior officials at wreath-laying ceremony for law enforcement personnel killed in line of duty

220607-N-LN285-2037 JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM (June 7, 2022) -- Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, Force Master Chief Jason Avin from Long Island, N.Y. thanks committee members assigned to Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet for their help during a Battle of Midway recognition ceremony at the USS Parche Submarine Park and Memorial at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, June 7. The Battle of Midway, fought over and near the Midway atoll, approximately 1,500 nautical miles northwest of Hawaii, represents the strategic high water mark and turning point of the Pacific war.

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.

040228-M-5612C-184. Base: USMC Recruit Depot, San Diego State: California (CA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

U.S. Army Captain. David Kim, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) team member, carries the DPAA wreath during the National POW/MIA Recognition Day ceremony hosted by the DPAA at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu, Sept. 16, 2022. This day was first established in 1979 through a proclamation from President Jimmy Carter, in observance to honor and recognize the sacrifices of those Americans who have been prisoners of war and to remind the nation of those who are still missing in action. 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. Army V Corps Forward Deputy Commanding General Maj. Gen. Ollie Kingsbury and Command Sgt. Maj. Eric Bohannon, leadership from U.S. Army V Corps Forward, join the Poznan community laying wreaths to commemorate the 105th anniversary of the Battle of Ławica, Jan. 6, 2024, at Poznań-Ławica Henryk Wieniawski Airport in Poznan, Poland. Celebrating Poland's historical accomplishments advances the interoperability, communication and relations between the American military community and Europe.

US Air Force Major General Stephen Lorenz, Director of Plans and Programs, headquarters in United States Air Forces in Europe, Ramstein Air Base, Germany, partakes in a Memorial Day ceremony with a speech and laying of wreath at LaFayette Escadrille Monument in Paris, France. Base: Paris Country: France (FRA)

At Ramstein Air Base, Germany, four Canadian Forces (CAF) members killed in a bombing accident in Afghanistan, in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, are honored during a fallen soldier ceremony performed by United States and CAF members. Subject Operation/Series: ENDURING FREEDOM Base: Ramstein Air Base State: Rheinland-Pfalz Country: Deutschland / Germany (DEU)

011002-F-3798Y-012. Base: Yokota Air Base Country: Japan (JPN) Scene Major Command Shown: PACAF

U.S. Marine Corps Col. Michael L. Brooks, base commander, Marine Corps Base Quantico, and Crystal Vanuch, Stafford County chairman of the board, hang a wreath during a memorial ceremony held at Stafford County War Memorial, Stafford, Virginia, May 27, 2022. Each year service members are honored for their service and sacrifice to the United States of Armerica.

Swearing Ceremony of new Firemen in Szczawnica of Poland

Lt. Gen. Nina Armagno (right), director of staff, U.S. Space Force Headquarters, presents Kathleen Collins (left) with the U.S. flag from the funeral service of Collins' father, U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Michael Collins, in Section 51 of Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va., Jan. 30, 2023. After graduating from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1952, Maj. Gen. Collins joined the Air Force and became a fighter pilot. In January 1954, Maj. Gen. Collins joined the 21st Fighter-Bomber Wing at George Air Force Base, Calif., where he learned to deliver nuclear weapons in his F-86 Sabre jet. From 1959 to 1963, he was a test pilot for the Air Force Flight Test Center at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. There, he tested performance, stability, and control characteristics of experimental Air Force fighter jets. During his career, he logged over 4,200 hours of flying time.In October 1963, Maj. Gen. Collins joined NASA as a member of the third group of NASA astronauts. During the Gemi

YOKOSUKA, Japan (Sept. 11, 2022) Culinary Specialist Senior Chief, Shamar Hope, left, and Arnel Dorn, Commander, Navy Region Japan (CNRJ) Fire and Emergency Serivices (F&ES) fire chief, lay a wreath in honor of the lives lost during the 9/11 attacks at the Chief Petty Officers Club onboard Commander, Activities Yokosuka (CFAY). For more than 75 years, CFAY has provided, maintained, and operated base facilities and services in support of the U.S. 7th Fleet's forward-deployed naval forces, tenant commands, and thousands of military and civilian personnel and their families.

U.S. Army paratroopers assigned to the 173rd Airborne Brigade participate in a memorial ceremony of the Battle of Monte Casale in Ponti sul Mincio on May 1, 2022. Ponti sul Mincio is known for being the location of the last battle of World War II on Italian soil, the Battle of Monte Casale, and each year the community invites the 173rd Airborne Brigade to remember the sacrifices of those who fought and died there.The 173rd Airborne Brigade is the U.S. Army's Contingency Response Force in Europe, providing rapidly deployable forces to the United States European, African, and Central Command areas of responsibility. Forward deployed across Italy and Germany, the brigade routinely trains alongside NATO allies and partners to build partnerships and strengthen the alliance.

Poland, Warsaw, Pilsuskiego, Tomb of the unknown Soldier in Plac Marszalka Jozefa.

Acting Secretary P. Lynn Scarlett and other Interior senior officials at wreath-laying ceremony for law enforcement personnel killed in line of duty

Service members and veterans participate in a wreath laying ceremony at the Eternal Light Flagstaff at Madison Square Park before the New York City Veterans Day Parade in New York, Nov. 11, 2022. Ceremonial wreath laying's occur during Veterans Day to pay formal respects to the sacrifices of America's veterans.

DN-SC-86-03616. Base: Naval Submarine Base, Groton State: Connecticut (CT) Country: United States Of America (USA)

U.S. Navy Lt. Robert B. Keavney, New Jersey Army National Guard Spc. William J. Doyle, and Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. Freddy Corniel present American flags to family members during the Veteran Internment Service at the Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Wrightstown, New Jersey, June 16, 2022. The ceremony was organized by the Vietnam Veterans of America, New Jersey Shore Area Chapter 12. The Monmouth County Sheriffs Office escorted the cremains of 14 veterans and one spouse - World War I veteran Edward Eriksen, World War II veterans Filmore A. Fergusson, Joseph Fucci, Donald B. Jamieson, Frank S. Krulikowski, William N. Lutz, John J. Nelson, Anthony P. Saeea, John J. Stasik, Edward E. Tompkins and George Urbanowicz; Korean War veterans Hugh Allan Jr. and Richard D Dixon; Vietnam veteran John J. Feehan Sr., and Margaret Duda, wife of Theodore Duda. Since 2011, New Jersey Shore Area Chapter 12, has worked with funeral homes to identify unclaimed cremains of vet

U.S. Army Col. Shannon-Mikal Lucas, deputy provost marshal general, Office of the Provost Marshal General; U.S. Army Sgt. Maj. Viridiana Lavalle, military working dog program manager, Office of the Provost Marshal General; and others watch the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va., Sept. 27, 2022.

U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Patrick E. Matlock (right), special assistant to the director of the army staff, U.S. Army greets President Joseph Biden (left) upon his arrival to Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va., May 30, 2022. Biden was at ANC to participate in the 154th National Memorial Day Observance.

U.S. Coast Guard Fiesta Ambassadors speak with U.S. Coast Guardsmen during the Investiture of King Antonio at the Alamo Plaza in downtown San Antonio, Texas, April 2, 2022. King Antonio is a Fiesta dignitary selected from the ranks of the Texas Cavaliers, an organization of 600 businesses, civic and community leaders, who volunteer their time and talents in support of San Antonio area charities.

051021-F-5586B-314. Base: Seoul State: Seoul National Capital Area Country: Republic Of Korea (KOR)

Brig. Gen. Andrew Preston, commandant, Field Artillery School, administered the oath of office to 20 newly commissioned 2nd Lieutenants during a ceremony May 13 2022 at the University of Oklahoma.

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.

Lt. Gen. Brad Webb, commander of Air Education and Training Command, stands with members from the Alamo Chapter of the Vietnam Veterans of America prior to the All Veterans Memorial Service in San Antonio, Texas, April 10, 2022. The All Veterans Memorial Service is the oldest military event in Fiesta San Antonio and is hosted by the Alamo Chapter of the Vietnam Veterans of America. The service, attended by veterans, spouses and survivors, veterans groups, and the general public, honors the sacrifices of past and present U.S. military members.

The Mayor of Montebourg, Jean-Pierre Mauquest speaks in front of Soldiers and French citizens, June 3, 2022, during the D-Day 78th Anniversary Events, at Montebourg, Normandie, France. The Mayor spoke about how the town was liberated by soldiers from the 4th Infantry Division after the Allies pushed into France following the successful landings at Normandy on D-Day, 1944. (U.S. Spc. Scyrrus Corregidor)

World War II Veterans and representatives of those who could not be in attendance receive a challenge coin at the Eternal Heroes Monument in Normandy, France, June 2, 2022. World War II Veterans and representatives of the 82nd Airborne Division and 101st Airborne Divisions (Air Assault) came to honor fallen Paratroopers who liberated Ravenoville in June of 1944.

England, London, City of London. Members of the RAF Association marching in the procession at the annual Lord Mayor's Show in the City of London.

A museum historian speaks with Lt. Gen. Viorel Pană, second from left, chief of the Romanian Air Force Staff, after a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va., June 27, 2023.

Fort Polk leadership salute a wreath in memory of the heroes of 9/11 at a ceremony held Sept. 9.

Parade with veterans, Arc de Triomphe, Paris, France, Europe

Douglas Vasiliadis receives the U.S. flag from the funeral service for his father, U.S. Air Force Col. (ret.) Charles Vasiliadis, in Section 7 of Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va., Jan. 9, 2023.Col. Vasiliadis served in the Air Force for 30 years and was a highly decorated fighter pilot. A Vietnam veteran, he earned two Silver Stars, two Legions of Merit, five Distinguished Flying Crosses, a Purple Heart, and 30 Air Medals.

United States Air Forces in Europe, Special Security Squadron (Elite Guard) of Ramstein, Germany, present the colors at a Memorial Day ceremony at the tomb of France's unknown soldier in Arch of Triumph in Paris, France. Base: Paris Country: France (FRA)

Bagpiper on hand for ceremonies marking the centennial of the first powered flight, Wright Brothers National Memorial, Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina

930114-D-9880W-162. Base: Fort Myer State: Virginia (VA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

YOKOHAMA, Japan (Feb. 14, 2023) Lt. Matthew Moynihan, U.S. Navy Command Chaplain, assigned to the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, USS Higgins (DDG 76), speaks with a service-veteran family member during a war memorial ceremony for the Japanese/POW(s) Friendship Program, Feb. 14, at Yokohama Commonwealth War Cemetery. The cemetery includes a large urn containing the ashes of 335 Sailors, Soldiers, and Airmen from the United States, the British Commonwealth, and the Kingdom of the Netherlands, who died as POWs in Japan. The ceremony is sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Commander, Navy Region Japan, bringing families of U.S. prisoners of war to Japan for a week-long reconciliation tour.

Brig. Gen. Frank Graefe, the German Defense Attache, delivers a speech during a commemoration of the 104th anniversary of the 3rd Infantry Divisions stand on the Marne River at the Arlington Memorial Amphitheater at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia, July 15, 2022. During World War I, the division earned the name Rock of the Marne during the Second Battle of the Marne at the Marne River near Chateau-Thierry, France, July 15, 1918. This was the last major German offensive of the war. The Germans planned to march up the Marne River and carry on to Paris but failed when they met 3rd ID. When the German units retreated and the French Allies pulled back their troops, the then Commanding General of the 3rd ID, Maj. Gen. Joseph Dickman, told the French Allies Nous resterons la, translated to English, this means We will stay here. The 3rd IDs heroism during this battle was a turning point in the war.

030411-M-1852W-041. Base: Marine Corps Air Station, Futema State: Okinawa Country: Japan (JPN) Scene Major Command Shown: MAG-36

With U.S. Naval Attache, Capt. Charles J. Cassidy, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry prepares to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier during a ceremony at the National War Memorial in Ottawa, Canada, on October 28, 2014. The Secretary is in Ottawa to emphasize steadfast U.S. support for our Canadian partners, continued close cooperation in our shared approach to countering violent extremism, and our commitment to stand beside our Canadian neighbors and friends.

U.S. Army Col. (ret.) Gregory Gadson participates in a Public Wreath-Laying Ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va., Oct. 4, 2022. Gadson was at ANC to speak to employees as part of the National Disability Employment Awareness Month. Gadson has dedicated himself to the work of Wounded Warriors, veterans, and other groups who support employment and betterment of person with disabilities.

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.

Gen. Stephen Townsend, the commander of U.S Africa Command, addresses the audience during the award ceremony Army Distinguished Service Medal to Maj. Gen. Andrew M. Rohling, outgoing commanding general U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa at Caserma Ederle in Vicenza, Italy, July 14, 2022.

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.

U.S. Army Col. (ret.) Gregory Gadson participates in a Public Wreath-Laying Ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va., Oct. 4, 2022. Gadson was at ANC to speak to employees as part of the National Disability Employment Awareness Month. Gadson has dedicated himself to the work of Wounded Warriors, veterans, and other groups who support employment and betterment of person with disabilities.

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 5th Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment with members of the French military provided the color guard and rifle squad for the Memorial Day Ceremony.

U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Tamara Edwards, Army Support Activity Fort Fix, command sergeant major, speaks during a change of responsibility on April 29, 2022, at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. The ceremonial event was held to symbolize the transition of authority from Command Sgt. Maj. Tamara Edwards to Command Sgt. Maj. James Van Zlike. A change of responsibility ceremony is a traditional event meant to reinforce noncommissioned officer authority in the U.S. Army and highlights their support to the chain of command.

The leadership of Area Support Group Poland and V Corps Forward pose for a photo with Mariusz Wiśniewski, first deputy mayor of the city of Poznań, at the 1956 Uprising Monument in Poznań, Poland commemorating the 1956 protests and subsequent Polish protests against the communist political system, June 26, 2022. The Poznań Riots, or the 1956 Uprising, was the first recognized strike and street demonstration in Communist Poland.

Scottish and American civilians, active service members, and veteran service members attend a Scottish-American memorial day ceremony in Edinburgh, Scotland, May 31, 2022. The ceremony was held in honor of service members that gave their lives protecting their countries and loved ones.

Flag lowering ceremony by US Air force servicemen at Sulgrave Manor, England, ancestral home of George Washington. 2015

U.S. Army paratroopers assigned to the 173rd Airborne Brigade participate in a memorial ceremony of the Battle of Monte Casale in Ponti sul Mincio on May 1, 2022. Ponti sul Mincio is known for being the location of the last battle of World War II on Italian soil, the Battle of Monte Casale, and each year the community invites the 173rd Airborne Brigade to remember the sacrifices of those who fought and died there.The 173rd Airborne Brigade is the U.S. Army's Contingency Response Force in Europe, providing rapidly deployable forces to the United States European, African, and Central Command areas of responsibility. Forward deployed across Italy and Germany, the brigade routinely trains alongside NATO allies and partners to build partnerships and strengthen the alliance.

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