Misawa AB community gathers for Memorial Day retreat

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jessica Lockoski
  • 35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan --  Airmen, Sailors and Soldiers were joined by U.S. military veterans in a somber retreat ceremony May 27, honoring those who paid the ultimate sacrifice in the defense and service of their nation.

The audience of more than 200 past and present service members and their families bore witness to a special Memorial Day retreat with the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force also present outside the 35th Fighter Wing headquarters building in Risner Circle.

"We honor their sacrifices in the pursuit and preservation of freedom from the earliest days of our nation through the military operations taking place in Southwest Asia today," said Col. Kyle Matyi, 35th Maintenance Group commander, addressing those in attendance. "The ideals in which brave service members have died for over the last 150 years are just as important today as they were then."

Following a time-honored tradition, Colonel RC Craig, 35th Fighter Wing vice commander, and JASDF Major Gen. Kozo Ishino, Northern Air Defense Force vice commander, presented a wreath near the medal of honor memorial, which bears the names of many Airmen who died protecting their brothers and sisters in arms.

Dating back to the Civil War, laying flowers on the graves of fallen soldiers was a common expression of remembrance, and during that time the first Memorial Day observance was establish, originally called Remembrance Day.

"No words, except the unspoken, can fully describe the eternal sacrifices that have been made upon the altar of freedom," said Colonel Matyi. "But we owe it to them, who have worn and died in our nation's uniform to gather together and speak of their heroism."
Once the wreath was placed, the crowd paused for a brief moment of silence in honor of those who have died.

Then, the Japanese and U.S. National Anthems echoed within Risner Circle. As the were American and Japanese honor guard members lowered and secured both nation's flags, a scene of stiff salutes and hands above hearts simultaneously cascaded throughout the crowd.

A bugle call followed sounding Taps; faces in the crowd softened and rendered emotions became more visible as the community reflected.

"While most of us are thousands of miles away from our extended families," started Colonel Matyi, "we can take solemn comfort in respectful remembrance of our comrades who died in defense of our country with our Army, Navy and Air Force families here in Misawa."