Kadena recognizes service members during Veterans Day ceremony

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Maeson L. Elleman
  • 18th Wing Public Affairs
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --  As they stood in silence and watched the Airman from the 320th Special Tactics Squadron present the American flag to the awaiting Honor Guardsmen, the bugler placed his horn to his lips and prepared himself for the upcoming performance.

Within a few short moments the guardsmen clipped the flags to the poles, the first few notes of "Reveille" sounded excitedly from the end of the Marine's trumpet and the service members presented a salute to their nation's banner as it made its ascent.

This scene, familiar with any service member in the U.S. Armed Forces, announced the beginning to the Veterans Day ceremony at the 18th Wing headquarters Nov. 11, a day dedicated to the men and women serving around the world for the freedoms and liberties of all American citizens.

"We are gathered here on this Veterans Day, the 11th day, of the 11 month, of 2011, to offer our sincerest gratitude to our nation's veterans," said Chief Master Sgt. Mark Marson, 18th Wing command chief during the ceremony. "On this day, we celebrate and honor all of America's veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good. I believe it is this willingness to sacrifice that most defines a veteran and sets us apart from other freedom loving citizens."

President Woodrow Wilson first commemorated Nov. 11 as Armistice Day in 1919 to honor the veterans of World War I. The day was later changed to Veterans Day in 1954 by President Dwight Eisenhower to honor all veterans from all U.S. conflicts.

During the ceremony, members from each branch of service on Okinawa came together to recognize the sacrifices made by all U.S. veterans, past and present. Following the raising of the flag and the Japanese and American national anthems, four representatives from the services recited their branch's creed and guest speakers shared their experiences with the crowd.

During his speech, Marson spoke of the decade-long conflicts in the Middle East, the stress of deployments, the trials of family separation and the heroes who have served the nation with disregard for personal gain.

"The War on Terrorism has taught us anew the price of service and sacrifice," Marson said. "I am reminded of a personal hero who I served with on my last deployment. His name is Lieutenant Joe Helton, a security forces officer, who gave his life Sept. 8, 2009, while training Iraqi Police in Baghdad. Many of you have similar stories of loved ones and friends who sacrificed all on the field of battle. Today is a stark reminder, that all gave some and some like Joe Helton gave all.

"Those of you wearing the uniform are elite. You represent less than one-half of one percent of the American population. You have chosen to live a life of sacrifice for country and your exertions have protected freedom-loving peoples from terrorist acts around the world. Many of you chose to join this Fraternity of Warriors at a time when your nation needed you most. "

As the ceremony came to a close, once more the bugler placed his instrument in position and played "Taps" with solemn reverence, and once more the crowd rendered the final respects to the fallen heroes of wars past.

"On this Veterans Day, as we thank and remember all of our veterans, let me especially thank you who continue to serve and continue to sacrifice for the cause of freedom," Marson concluded. "You have placed service before self and in so doing have carried the torch of freedom passed on from previous generations of warrior-citizens."