Veteran Honors and Remembrances

World War II veterans are honored during commemorative ceremonies, reflecting their legacy with emotional reunions and tribute events.

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.

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.

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.

Surrounded by family and friends, last month, 94-year-old Sgt. Walter Leman Messley celebrated his birthday and he had one final wish - to have his service and legacy honored one last time with his loved ones. On Sunday, April 2, 2023, two members of the Idaho Army National Guards Honor Guard joined Messleys family and friends at Meridian Meadows Transitional Care to honor his service with a flag-folding ceremony and present him with his own U.S. flag in recognition of his service.

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.

Maj. Gen. Allan M. Pepin (left), commanding general, Joint Task Force - National Capital Region and the U.S. Military District of Washington, speaks with Darrell Bush (right), 98, a former U.S. Army Staff Sergeant and a WWII veteran of the Battle of the Bulge, at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va., Jan. 25, 2023. Bush was at ANC to view a wreath-laying ceremony at the Battle of the Bulge monument, commemorating the ending of the Battle of the Bulge on this date in 1945.The Battle of the Bulge, described by Winston Churchill as "undoubtedly the greatest American battle" of World War II, took place in the Ardennes Forest region of Belgium and Luxembourg from December 16, 1944, to January 25, 1945. The last major German counteroffensive on the Western Front, it ended in victory for Allied forces under the command of General Dwight D. Eisenhower but at great cost. Soldiers fought in brutal winter conditions, and the U.S. Army lost approximately 19,000 men (and suffered some 75,00

World War II veterans attended and were honored during the Carre de Choux (Cabbage Patch) Ceremony in Carentan, France, on June 3, 2022. This ceremony commemorates the 78th Anniversary of D-Day, the largest multi-national amphibious landing and operational military airdrop in history. The Cabbage Patch Commemoration Ceremony and Parade paid homage to the Paratroopers of the 101st Airborne Division who fought enemy forces occupying this area surrounding Carentan.

World War II vets attend The Great Texas Air Show, Apr. 23 2022, at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas. The Great Texas Airshow, featuring the Thunderbirds, was April 23 thru 24 at JBSA-Randolph. The Thunderbirds perform for people all around the world to display the pride, precision and professionalism the U.S. Air Force represents. Through air shows and flyovers, they aim to excite and inspire. In addition to showcasing the elite skills all pilots must possess, the Thunderbirds demonstrate the incredible capabilities of the Air Force's premier multi-role fighter jet, the F-16 Fighting Falcon.

Rear Adm. John Mauger, commander, First Coast Guard District, presents Dwight A. Smith, Jr. a challenge coin during a Congressional Gold Medal ceremony on behalf of his late father, Capt. Dwight A. Smith, a Merchant Mariner who served during World War II, in Tilton, New Hampshire, Aug 31, 2022. In 2020, Congress passed the Merchant Mariners of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act to recognize merchant mariners for their courage and contributions during the war.

Richard H. Hamilton and William B. Busier speak before the POW/MIA Day observance at Camp Johnson, Vermont, on Sept. 16, 2022. POW/MIA Day is observed the third Friday of September to honor veterans who were held as prisoners of war or who were missing in action. Hamilton was held at Stalag Luft 4 in Poland for 9 months. Busier was held at Stalag Luft 9A for six months.

Maj. Gen. Michel M. Russell Sr., commanding general, 1st Theater Sustainment Command, thanks World War II veteran Vernon Deckard for his service during the Memorial Day ceremony held at the Vietnam Memorial Wall in the Elizabethtown Nature Park, May 30, 2022

U.S. Army Brig. Gen. L. Scott Linton (left), 88th Readiness Division, Deputy Commanding General (Readiness), and Air Force Col. Lisa M. Mabbutt (center), 633rd Mission Support Group, commander, applaud a Yorktown high school marching band from the review stand during the Yorktown Day parade at Yorktown, Virginia, Oct. 19, 2022. The parade was one of several events commemorating the siege of Yorktown in 1781, paving the way for America to be a free, independent nation.

A U.S. Navy sailor, center, poses for a photo with Ret. HM3 John Hutchings, left, and Ret. Lt. Col. Richard Cody, right, following the Corpsmen Memorial Dedication Ceremony at the Lejeune Memorial Gardens in Jacksonville, North Carolina, Oct. 12, 2022. The Corpsmen Memorial is dedicated to honor all those who served alongside the Marines as Fleet Marine Force Corpsmen in recognition of the duties performed and bonds forged in conflict.

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.

Idaho Governor Brad Little, military members, veterans and residents of the Treasure Valley community gather at Idaho State Veterans Cemetery for a Memorial Day ceremony, May 30, 2022, Boise, Idaho. The ceremony included guest speakers, a 21-gun salute and firing of American Civil War cannons.

World War II veterans exchange words during the Carre de Choux (Cabbage Patch) Ceremony in Carentan, France, June 3, 2022. This ceremony commemorates the 78th Anniversary of D-Day, the largest multi-national amphibious landing and operational military airdrop in history. The Cabbage Patch Commemoration Ceremony and Parade paid homage to the Paratroopers of the 101st Airborne Division who fought enemy forces occupying this area surrounding Carentan.

U.S. Army North leaders paid special tribute to World War II Veteran Pfc. Reid Clantons service awarding him long-overdue medals during a ceremony held in his honor May 16, 2022, at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas. Clanton enlisted in the U.S. Army at 18 years old, May 19, 1943, and his first combat assignment in a forward artillery observer team with the 29th Infantry Division landed him on Omaha Beach on D-Day. Clanton took the opportunity to reflect on his time in service and expressed his gratitude for the ceremony given in his honor.

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.

U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to the 75th Ranger Regiment salute World War II veterans who are being escorted to a ceremony at the Cabbage Patch Square in Carentan, France on June 3, 2022. The square marks starting point for the battle to liberate Carentan during DDay in World War II. This year, U.S. Army Europe and Africa commemorates the 78th anniversary of DDay, the largest multinational amphibious landing and operational military airdrop in history, and highlights the U.S.' steadfast commitment to European allies and partners.

The Virginia Military InstituteÕs parade conducted Sept. 17 in Lexington honored the Virginia, Maryland and Washington D.C. National Guard Soldiers of the 29th Infantry Division, 116th Infantry Regiment and all the Virginia communities represented in the June 6, 1944 D-Day Invasion at Normandy, France. Marching in the parade were 16 members of the VMI Corps of Cadets who are members of the 29th Infantry Division or 116th Infantry Regiment, and four of those Soldiers recently returned from combat deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan.

001018-N-5208T-004. Base: Naval Station, Norfolk State: Virginia (VA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Clifford Stump, a World War 2 veteran, attends the 82nd Airborne Division Review, Sept. 29, 2022, on Pike Field, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, marking the end of All American Week. AAW22 celebrated the Division's culture and legacy as America's Guard of Honor through a series of sporting and ceremonial events promoting comradery.

221004-M-VR919-1047 SAN FRANCISCO (October 4, 2022) James Hong, left, and Ed Baumgarten, both members of the Cathay Post 384, volunteer to serve service members during the American Legion Lunch for San Francisco Fleet Week 2022 at San Francisco War Memorial, California, Oct. 4, 2022. SFFW is an opportunity for the American public to meet their Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard teams and experience Americas sea services. During fleet week, service members participate in various community service events, showcase capabilities and equipment to the community, and enjoy the hospitality of the city and its surrounding areas.

Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. James McConville (left) speaks with Darrell Bush (right), 98, a former U.S. Army Staff Sergeant and a WWII veteran of the Battle of the Bulge, at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va., Jan. 25, 2023. Bush was at ANC to view a wreath-laying ceremony at the Battle of the Bulge monument, commemorating the ending of the Battle of the Bulge on this date in 1945.The Battle of the Bulge, described by Winston Churchill as "undoubtedly the greatest American battle" of World War II, took place in the Ardennes Forest region of Belgium and Luxembourg from December 16, 1944, to January 25, 1945. The last major German counteroffensive on the Western Front, it ended in victory for Allied forces under the command of General Dwight D. Eisenhower but at great cost. Soldiers fought in brutal winter conditions, and the U.S. Army lost approximately 19,000 men (and suffered some 75,000 total casualties) in what became the United States' deadliest single World War II ba

Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. James McConville (left) speaks with Darrell Bush (right), 98, a former U.S. Army Staff Sergeant and a WWII veteran of the Battle of the Bulge, at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va., Jan. 25, 2023. Bush was at ANC to view a wreath-laying ceremony at the Battle of the Bulge monument, commemorating the ending of the Battle of the Bulge on this date in 1945.The Battle of the Bulge, described by Winston Churchill as "undoubtedly the greatest American battle" of World War II, took place in the Ardennes Forest region of Belgium and Luxembourg from December 16, 1944, to January 25, 1945. The last major German counteroffensive on the Western Front, it ended in victory for Allied forces under the command of General Dwight D. Eisenhower but at great cost. Soldiers fought in brutal winter conditions, and the U.S. Army lost approximately 19,000 men (and suffered some 75,000 total casualties) in what became the United States' deadliest single World War II ba

After 72 years, Pfc. Kenneth LeRoy Bridger was finally laid to rest and closure was given to his family during a full military honors graveside ceremony held in Twin Falls, Idaho, on May 21. Bridger was reported missing in action on Nov. 30, 1950, while serving alongside his fellow U.S. troops during the war against North Korea. Bridgers remains were identified on Jan. 26, 2022. Bridger was just 17 years old when he went missing and was a member of Company K, 3rd Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. He enlisted into the U.S. Army from Colville, Washington, but his remaining family resides in Idaho where he was laid to rest next to his brothers and his mother. Bridgers four living siblings, along with their families, attended the private ceremony. Maj. Gen. Michael Garshak, Idahos adjutant general, presented Wilber Bridger, Pfc. Bridgers brother and oldest surviving relative, the U.S. flag and the Purple Heart on his brother's behalf. Bridgers brothers Lynn and Halb

Retired Marine Master Sgt. Patrick Hasiak (left) and Retired Sgt. 1st Class Lou Mitchell pray together during a Veterans Day ceremony at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall Nov. 11, 2010. The two Vietnam veterans traveled to Washington, D.C., from Dale City, Va.

Commander Naval Supply Systems Command, Rear Adm. Pete Stamatopoulos, greets Pearl Harbor survivor Richard Schimmel prior to the 2022 Pearl Harbor Rememberance Ceremony at the Pennsylvania State Capitol. Headquartered in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, and employing a diverse, worldwide workforce of more than 22,500 military and civilian personnel, NAVSUP's mission is to provide supplies, services, and quality-of-life support to the Navy and joint warfighter.

A combat-wounded Vietnam War veteran prepares to board Honor Flight Northeast Indiana's 35th flight April 27, 2022, at the 122nd Fighter Wing, Fort Wayne, Indiana. Honor Flight Northeast Indiana, Inc. is a volunteer, nonprofit organization that transports military veterans to Washington D.C. to reflect upon the memorials built in their honor.

Commander Naval Supply Systems Command, Rear Adm. Pete Stamatopoulos, greets Pearl Harbor survivor Richard Schimmel prior to the 2022 Pearl Harbor Rememberance Ceremony at the Pennsylvania State Capitol. Headquartered in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, and employing a diverse, worldwide workforce of more than 22,500 military and civilian personnel, NAVSUP's mission is to provide supplies, services, and quality-of-life support to the Navy and joint warfighter.

Charles Alexander, Jr., superintendent, Arlington National Cemetery, greets World War II 95th Division veterans during the 95th Division Legacy Associations 72nd Reunion in Section 2 of Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va., Oct. 20, 2022. As part of the reunion, two wreaths were placed at the gravesite of U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Harry Twaddle, former 95th Division Commander.

From left: Clyde Cassidy, Maj. Gen. Greg Knight, Richard H. Hamilton, William B. Busier, and Ralph McClintock pose for a group photo after the POW/MIA Day observance at Camp Johnson, Vermont, on Sept. 16, 2022. POW/MIA Day is observed the third Friday of September to honor veterans who were held as prisoners of war or who were missing in action. Knight is Vermont's adjutant general. Cassidy, Hamilton, and Busier are former World War II POWs, and McClintock is a former crew member of the U.S.S. Pueblo, which was captured by North Korea in 1968.

DA-SC-88-03515. Base: Fort Belvoir State: Virginia (VA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Mr. Jerimiah Tuttle, a U.S. Navy World War II veteran, shows photos of his past to U.S. Army Sgt. Edward Doyle, a Soldier assigned to the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), during a meet and greet with World War II veterans and Soldiers assigned to the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) at Veghel, Netherlands, Sept. 15, 2022. The 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) honors World War II veterans who demonstrated selfless service and sacrifice that characterizes the Greatest Generation in defense of global peace and security.

SANTA FE, N.M. - Sgt. 1st Class Leroy A. Petry, 75th Ranger Regiment Medal of Honor recipient, greets Cpl. Vicente Ojinaga, a Bataan Death March survivor, at the Santa Fe Convention Center, Aug. 1. This was Petrys the first visit to Santa Fe since receiving the Medal of Honor, July 12.

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.

U.S. Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo meets with members of the VFW and VFW Auxiliary Kansas Delegation, in Orlando, Florida on July 22, 2019.

050624-A-4928M-081. Base: Fort Hood State: Texas (TX) Country: United States Of America (USA) Scene Major Command Shown: Northeast

Marines from various units visit with Richard L. Buckner, a retired Marine from Danville, Ky., at San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Oct. 8, 2011. Marines, sailors and Coast Guardsmen visited the VA medical center as part of San Francisco Fleet Week. The week-long event is an opportunity for the Navy-Marine Corps team to give back to the community and to show their potential for assisting in humanitarian efforts.

U.S. Military veterans, render a salute to an accounted for service member, during an interment ceremony held at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu, April 20, 2022. The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency and attending family members paid their respects and honored the life of U.S. Navy Seaman 1st Class Biacio Casola, who was assigned to the USS Oklahoma when the ship was attacked by Japanese aircraft during World War II. Casola was accounted for on July 26, 2021 nearly 80 years after the attacks on Pearl Harbor.

Pennsylvania National Guardsmen joined Major General Anthony Carrelli during his annual visit to Southwestern Veterans Center located in Pittsburgh, Pa. Dec. 13, 2019. Guardsmen spent time and talked to the veterans that served before them and thanked them for their service.

Senior Airman Dana Rhoads, right, 177th Fighter Wing, New Jersey Air National Guard, shakes hands with a New Jersey Veterans Memorial Home resident during the 15th Annual Holiday "Songfest" at the Home at Vineland, N.J., Dec. 16, 2015. The 80 fourth graders from the Seaview School in Linwood, N.J., joined the 16 Airmen to sing holiday songs to the homes residents during the event.

U.S. veterans sit and talk during the National POW/MIA Recognition Day Ceremony 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.

240216-N-PN185-1023 - Hendersonville, North Carolina (Feb. 16, 2024) - Chief Musician Bryce Edwards, a native of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, speaks with an audience member following the United States Navy Band 2024 national tour concert in the Hendersonville High School gymnasium. The Navy Band will travel 2500 ground miles over 18 days to 7 states, giving 12 public concerts as well as 5 concerts for students in schools. Navy

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.

U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Josephine Jarvis, an air traffic controller, presents flowers to the mother-in-law of U.S. Marine Corps Col. Brendan Burks, commanding officer of Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, Aug. 5, 2022. Flowers are given to the incoming family to welcome them to the air station and community. In lieu of flowers, Holly Burks, Col. Burks wife, and Alana Huber, Col. Hubers wife, made a donation to the Semper Fi Fund.

Cleve Fair, a member of the Marine Corps League, recites the Pledge of Allegiance after the unveiling of a permanent memorial to Mandeville Police Captain Vincent Liberto Jr., in Mandeville, Louisiana, Sept. 14, 2022. Liberto served 10 years in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve before being honorably discharged as a sergeant. He was shot and killed in the line of duty, Sept. 20, 2019. U.S. Marine Corps Col. Justin Ansel, the assistant chief of staff for the Marine Forces Reserve G-3/5 and a Mandeville resident, attended the dedication on behalf of the Marine Corps. We as officers owe it to America to give back someone whos better physically, mentally, morally. Thats what we do in the Marine Corps, said Ansel. We make Marines; we make them better mentally, physically, and morally, and then they go back into their communities. Vinnie Liberto is just a perfect example of this. His irrational call to serve continued from his Marine Corps service to public service as a Mandeville police officer

Former U.S. Army Air Corps Sgt. Arthur Kemp, 98, of Logan County, Ohio, is congratulated by Maj. Gen. John C. Harris Jr., Ohio adjutant general, after his induction into the Ohio Military Hall of Fame April 22, 2022, at the Ohio Statehouse Atrium in Columbus, Ohio. Kemp was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in July 1944 while serving as a B-17 tail gunner assigned to the 508th Bomb Squadron, 351st Bomb Group during World War II. The OMHOF recognizes Ohio veterans who were awarded medals for valor during their military service.

President Barack Obama talks with WWII veteran Kenneth (Rock) Merritt aboard Marine One after departing the 70th French-American Commemoration D-Day Ceremony at the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in Colleville-sur-Mer, France, June 6, 2014.

Commander Naval Supply Systems Command, Rear Adm. Pete Stamatopoulos, greets Pearl Harbor survivor Richard Schimmel prior to the 2022 Pearl Harbor Rememberance Ceremony at the Pennsylvania State Capitol. Headquartered in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, and employing a diverse, worldwide workforce of more than 22,500 military and civilian personnel, NAVSUP's mission is to provide supplies, services, and quality-of-life support to the Navy and joint warfighter.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (April 30, 2019) Rear Adm John Skillman, commander of Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 2, visits veterans at a Salute to Veterans ceremony during Fleet Week Port Everglades 2019, April 30, 2019. Fleet Week Port Everglades provides an opportunity for the citizens of South Florida to witness first-hand the latest capabilities of today's maritime services and gain a better understanding of how the sea services support the maritime strategy and national defense of the United States.

Byron Warren (right), shakes U.S. Army Pfc. (Ret.) James Hufnall's hand after presenting him with the Purple Heart during Hufnall's 100th birthday celebration in Kerrville, Texas, Sept. 15. Troopers from the 1st Cavalry Division, Horse Cavalry Detachment participated as the honor guard for this event.

World War II vets attend The Great Texas Air Show, Apr. 23 2022, at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas. The Great Texas Airshow, featuring the Thunderbirds, was April 23 thru 24 at JBSA-Randolph. The Thunderbirds perform for people all around the world to display the pride, precision and professionalism the U.S. Air Force represents. Through air shows and flyovers, they aim to excite and inspire. In addition to showcasing the elite skills all pilots must possess, the Thunderbirds demonstrate the incredible capabilities of the Air Force's premier multi-role fighter jet, the F-16 Fighting Falcon.

American Legion members listen as Brig. Gen. Mark Alessia, Director of the Illinois National Guard Joint Staff, gives his remarks at the state of Illinois American Legion event at the Bank of Springfield Center in Springfield, Illinois, July 15. Alessia discussed the Illinois National Guards State Partnership Program with Poland, COVID-19 relief efforts and units deployed overseas.

U.S. Air Force Col. John Cluck, commander of the 139th Airlift Wing, Missouri Air National Guard, speaks about honoring Prisoner of War (POW)s alongside guest speaker retired Capt. Guy Gruters as part of the National POW Repatriation Day of Remembrance at Grace Calvary Chapel, St. Joseph, Missouri, April 9, 2022. Gruters spoke about the five years he was held captive in a communist POW camp during the Vietnam war.

A U.S. Army Soldier with the 75th Ranger Regiment takes a moment to thank WWII veteran John T. Siewert, who served in Normandy and was on one of Navy crews providing support to the Rangers at Pointe du Hoc, which was commemorated in a special ceremony on June 5, 2022. The ceremony was part of a weeklong celebration remembering the DDay landings in Normandy.

Retired Col. Bruce Crandall, Medal of Honor recipient, talks with Maj. Gen. Jeff Holmes, the Adjutant Gen. of Tennessee, after attending a Medal Honor Convention breakfast here. Crandall received the Medal of Honorfor his actions as a pilot during the Battle of Ia Drangon November 14, 1965, in South Vietnam.

Marine Corps Pvt. William E. Rambo, 20, killed during World War II, was laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia, April 4, 2022. In November 1943, Rambo was a member of Company H, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force, and was killed in the Battle of Tarawa, Nov. 20, 1943. He was accounted for by DPAA on June 24, 2019. (Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Sean Everette)

Donald P. Norris, nephew of U.S. ArmyCpl. Adin C. Norris Jr.,receives the American flag during an interment ceremony held at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu, Hawaii, Feb. 23, 2024.The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency and attending family members paid their respects and honored the life of U.S. Army Cpl. Adin C. Norris Jr., who was assigned toCompany K, 3rd Battalion, 34th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division whenhis unit sustained heavy casualties while withdrawing from Taejon, South Korea.Norriswas accounted for onDec. 5, 2022. Air Force

061127-N-5215E-002. Base: Annapolis State: Maryland (MD) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Retired Chief Yeoman Bill Norberg, a Battle of Midway veteran stationed aboard USS Enterprise (CV 6), attends the 80th Anniversary of the Battle of Midway commemoration ceremony at the U.S. Navy Memorial in Washington, D.C., June 6. The ceremony commemorated the U.S. Navy's victory at the Battle of Midway and honored veterans like Norberg, stationed aboard USS Enterprise (CV 6).

Gen. Charles A. Flynn, Commanding General of United States Army Pacific, hugs Mr. Allen Hoe in tribute to his son, a fallen hero, at the 1st Lt. Nainoa K. Hoe Joint Multinational Simulation Center, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, Jan. 22, 2024. Every year, the Gimlets gather to remember their fallen warriors, honor their service, and celebrate their legacies.

220603-N-UJ449-1305 NAVAL AIR STATION SIGONELLA, Italy (June 03, 2022) U.S. Navy Medicine and Readiness Training Command Sigonella Command Master Chief Albert Wood, gives a speech during his retirement ceremony on Naval Air Station Sigonella, June 03, 2022. NAS Sigonella’s strategic location enables U.S., allied, and partner nation forces to deploy and respond as required, ensuring security and stability in Europe, Africa and Central Command.

U.S. Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo meets with members of the VFW and VFW Auxiliary Kansas Delegation, in Orlando, Florida on July 22, 2019.

A visitor places a lei on the casket during an interment ceremony held at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu, Sept. 21, 2022. The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) and attending family members paid their respects and honored the life of Petty Officer 1st Class Beoin Corzatt, who was assigned to the USS Oklahoma when the ship was attacked by Japanese aircraft during World War II. Corzatt was accounted for on Dec. 17, 2020, nearly 80 years after the attacks on Pearl Harbor.

Maj. Gen. Milford H. Beagle Jr., commanding general of the 10th Mountain Division, is made an honorary member of The National Ski Patrol (NSP) at the Historic Marker Unveiling and Gravesite Rededication Ceremony in honor of Charles Minot "Minnie" Dole, at the St. Johns Cemetery, Paul Smiths, N.Y., May 2, 2022. The National Ski Patrol was founded in 1938.

Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. James McConville (left) speaks with Darrell Bush (right), 98, a former U.S. Army Staff Sergeant and a WWII veteran of the Battle of the Bulge, at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va., Jan. 25, 2023. Bush was at ANC to view a wreath-laying ceremony at the Battle of the Bulge monument, commemorating the ending of the Battle of the Bulge on this date in 1945.The Battle of the Bulge, described by Winston Churchill as "undoubtedly the greatest American battle" of World War II, took place in the Ardennes Forest region of Belgium and Luxembourg from December 16, 1944, to January 25, 1945. The last major German counteroffensive on the Western Front, it ended in victory for Allied forces under the command of General Dwight D. Eisenhower but at great cost. Soldiers fought in brutal winter conditions, and the U.S. Army lost approximately 19,000 men (and suffered some 75,000 total casualties) in what became the United States' deadliest single World War II ba

Chief of Staff of the Army, Gen. George W. Casey Jr., talks with Roger Walden, one of the 3 survivers of the original "The Triple Nickel" unit, during a recognition ceremony at the Pentagon on March 25, 2010. (released)

Honor Flight veterans listen to the Honorable David Y. Ige, Governor of Hawaii, make remarks after their return from Washington D.C. at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu, Hawaii, Nov. 11, 2022. The Honor Flight Networks mission is to fly U.S. veterans to Washington D.C. to visit the memorials and monuments dedicated to honoring their service and sacrifice.

The commander of the 319th Quartermaster Battalion, Lt. Col. Blake Quick shakes hands with Spc. Tarik Seaberry's grandfather, Lorenzo Seaberry during the posthumous award ceremony.

Maj. Gen. Shawn Manke presents Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Curtis Norenberg with the Superior Civilian Service Award, August 30, 2022, in Falcon Heights, MN. Norenberg is a committee member of the Minnesota Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve and has volunteered for more than 50 years with the organization. He also set up the first committee in 1972. During the Minnesota State Fair's Military Appreciation Day, Employer Support of The Guard and Reserve recognized and honored the employers of military families. (Minnesota National Guard Photo by Staff Sgt. Mahsima Alkamooneh)

George Tinseth, 355th Wing historian, talks to Harvey Horn, a WWII prisoner of war, during the POW/MIA Recognition Ceremony at the Pima Air and Space Museum in Tucson, Arizona, Sept. 16, 2022. Established in 1979 and celebrated on the third Friday in September, POW/MIA Recognition Day honors those who were held captive and returned, as well as those who remain missing.

Staff Sgt. Roland McGinnis gives Retired Air Force Col. George Bud” Day, Medal of Honor recipient, and his wife Doris a tour of the commandant of the Marine Corps’ home during their visit to the commandant of the Marine Corps’ home at Marine Barracks 8th and I Aug. 3. The commandant’s house is the oldest original standing building in Washington. Day has served in three different military services, including the Marine Corps, during three different wars and is America’s most decorated living military officer. During his time as an Air Force pilot in Vietnam, Day was captured by North Vietnam forces. During his captivity he escaped, becoming the only prisoner of war to do so, but after two weeks of evasion, he was recaptured by Viet Cong forces. He was finally released in 1975.

060323-N-6403R-064. Base: USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) Country: Atlantic Ocean (AOC)

221207-N-MR862-077 OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. (07 Dec. 2022) Fleet Reserve Association USS Oklahoma Memorial Branch 268 master chief retired and retired petty officer 1st class walk a wreath to the USS Oklahoma (BB-37) Memorial Wall to honor the fallen crewmembers of the USS Oklahoma Dec. 07, 2022. Strategic Communications Wing (SCW) 1 is a tenant command at Tinker Air Force Base, ensuring National Security through the deterrence of adversarial nuclear ambitions.

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

060501-A-5399B-006. Base: Fort Hood State: Texas (TX) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Retired U.S. Navy Capt. Charlie Plumb, pilot and former American prisoner of war, delivers remarks during a keynote address and roundtable discussion at Travis Air Force Base, California, March 31, 2023. The event was part of the 50th anniversary of Operation Homecoming commemoration to honor and celebrate American POWs returning from Vietnam in 1973.

The Chief of Staff of the Army, Gen. James C. McConville, shakes hands with World War II veteran, Pfc. William Kellerman, who was awarded the Prisoner of War, Purple Heart, and Bronze Star Medal during a ceremony at Fort Hamilton, N.Y., June 28, 2022. Kellerman was assigned to Company D, 1st Battalion, 315th Infantry Regiment when he landed on Utah Beach, Normandy nearly 78 years ago on June 11, 1944. Less than one month into his tour of duty, the company radio was damaged under heavy gunfire and Kellerman was sent to notify his battalions headquarters. While en route, he was captured and taken prisoner by German soldiers on July 4, 1944. He later escaped and traveled over 600 miles before being found by the French Resistance, who hid him in the Freteval Forest until it was liberated by American forces in August 1944. He returned to his unit and in April 1945, Kellermans unit engaged in combat against the Armed Forces of Germany, and he was shot in the hand and leg by enemy small arm

the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is working with local, state and federal partners in areas affected by Hurricane Ian. Jacksonville District Commander Col. James Booth met with Sanibel Island Mayor Holly Smith to discuss the response. Mayor Smith show Col. Booth video of the devastation.

Contemplating a sacrifice in a moment of time.

Retired Lt. Col. Clifton Ward, a World War II and Vietnam War combat pilot, shows his official photo, taken May 19, 1955, during a visit to MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., Nov. 5, 2015. During his flying career, Ward piloted 29 aircraft, was reported missing in action, and earned the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star and the Air Medal for his actions in WWII and Vietnam.

Artist Paul Steucke Sr presents WWII pilot Lt. Col. (Ret.) Clayton M. Hays with an endorsed portion of the Together We Serve painting which features the ghost image of Hays in WWII.

Vietnam Veterans salute during the palying of the National Anthem at the Veterans Day Observance at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., on the 40th anniversary of the memorial's dedication, Nov. 11, 2022. (DoD photos by Chad J. McNeeley)

Veteran

U.S. Marine Corps Col. Richard Rusnok, center right, the commanding officer of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, from Pennsylvania, and Sgt. Maj. Jody Armentrout, right, the Sergeant Major of MCAS Iwakuni, from Texas, speak with a Japanese resident during the 2024 Iwakuni U.S.-Japan Friendship Concert at Sinfonia Concert Hall, Iwakuni, Japan, Feb. 24, 2024. The U.S.-Japan Friendship Concert is an annual event hosted by Chugoku-Shikoku Defense Bureau that allows students from different cultures to perform and have the opportunity to build a connection through music. Marine Corps

061206-N-4965F-020. Base: Pearl Harbor State: Hawaii (HI) Country: United States Of America (USA)

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.

Veterans of World War II receive warm greetings from the Normandy community following 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.

Retired U.S. Air Force Col. Clarence E. Bud Anderson, WWII Triple Ace, 357th Fighter Group pilot, sits at his booth during Wings Over Solano at Travis Air Force Base, California, May 15, 2022. The Wings Over Solano open house and air show provided an opportunity for the local community to interact directly with the base and its Airmen and see capabilities on full display at Travis AFB.

Holocaust Memorial Day at Yad Vashem Jerusalem

World War II veterans attended and were honored during the Carre de Choux (Cabbage Patch) Ceremony in Carentan, France, on June 3, 2022. This ceremony commemorates the 78th Anniversary of D-Day, the largest multi-national amphibious landing and operational military airdrop in history. The Cabbage Patch Commemoration Ceremony and Parade paid homage to the Paratroopers of the 101st Airborne Division who fought enemy forces occupying this area surrounding Carentan.

040630-F-0681L-014. Base: Hector Field State: North Dakota (ND) Country: United States Of America (USA) Scene Major Command Shown: ANG

The rural town of Firth held a large Veterans Day assembly in Eastern Idaho on Nov. 10th, inviting hundreds of attendees, including Idahos adjutant general, Maj. Gen. Michael Garshak. The assembly honored more than 100 local veterans and their families with help from more than 600 local and surrounding town volunteers, students, teachers and administrators. The assembly was held at Firth High School. The population of the small town is just shy of 600 people, according to the latest United States Census Bureau. Four Soldiers from the Idaho National Guards 148th Field Artillery Regiment posted the flags. Local veterans of all branches and current service members were recognized at the assembly and presented with plaques and roses. Garshak spoke at the assembly about the importance of patriotism.

Rear Admiral Eric Ruttenberg, U.S. Pacific Fleet Reserves, director of maritime operations, presents a folded flag to Vanessa Helming, a relative of U.S. Navy Shipfitter Third Class Francis Hannon, during an interment ceremony at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu, Hawaii, Oct. 13, 2022. Hannon was assigned to the USS Oklahoma when the ship was attacked by Japanese aircraft during World War II. Hannon was accounted for on Aug. 28, 2017. DPAA's mission is to achieve the fullest possible accounting for missing and unaccounted-for U.S. personnel to their families and the nation.

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.

A group poses for a photo during the annual Mississippi National Guard Retiree Day at the Mississippi Armed Forces Museum at Camp Shelby Joint Forces Training Center, Mississippi, Nov. 9, 2022. Retiree Day is held to honor and celebrate the service and sacrifice of retired Mississippi service members and their families.

Chief Commissaryman and WW-II veteran Robert Manges arrives at Base Portsmouth to celebrate a late 100-year birthday May 25th, 2022. Manges toured the Coast Guard Cutter Legare, observing what a Coast Guard galley has to offer compared to the USS Wakefield he traveled on while transporting U.S. soldiers and German prisoners back from the European theater, a total of 34 voyages.

Joe Landry (left), a 776th AAA Battalion WWII veteran of the Battle of the Bulge; Darrell Bush (center), 98, a former U.S. Army Staff Sergeant and a WWII veteran of the Battle of the Bulge; and others render honors during a wreath-laying ceremony at the Battle of the Bulge monument in Section 46, Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va., Jan. 25, 2023. The ceremony commemorated the ending of the Battle of the Bulge on this date in 1945.The Battle of the Bulge, described by Winston Churchill as "undoubtedly the greatest American battle" of World War II, took place in the Ardennes Forest region of Belgium and Luxembourg from December 16, 1944, to January 25, 1945. The last major German counteroffensive on the Western Front, it ended in victory for Allied forces under the command of General Dwight D. Eisenhower but at great cost. Soldiers fought in brutal winter conditions, and the U.S. Army lost approximately 19,000 men (and suffered some 75,000 total casualties) in what became the U

NASA astronaut Jack Fischer talks with veterans at the World War II Memorial who traveled to Washington, DC with the Buffalo Niagara Honor Flight, Saturday, Nov. 4, 2017.

FORT SHAFTER, Hawaii -- (left) 18th Medical Command (Deployment Support) Commander Brig. Gen. Paula Lodi, her family, and friends listen to remarks by (not pictured) U.S. Army Pacific Commander Gen. Charles Flynn during Lodi's promotion ceremony at Fort Shafter, Hawaii, Feb. 10, 2023. Lodi was promoted to the rank of major general, which is commonly referred to as a 2-star general.

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