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NEWS | May 30, 2022

11th ECAB leaders honor fallen during Memorial Day ceremony at Camp Buehring

By Spc. Zachary Danaher 11th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade

U.S. service members mobilized with Area Support Group – Kuwait and 11th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade participated in a Memorial Day ceremony at the Morale, Welfare and Recreation Theater at Camp Buehring, Kuwait, May 30, 2022.

U.S. Soldiers with Base Support Battalion – Kuwait coordinated the ceremony for all local service members, including personnel serving in support of Operation Inherent Resolve and Operation Spartan Shield.

Following an invocation at the start of the ceremony, U.S. Army Capt. Jason Bristol, the master of ceremonies, provided a history of Memorial Day before introducing the guest speaker, U.S. Army Col. Matthew Hill, 11th ECAB commander.

“Memorial Day is an occasion where we commemorate the women and men who have sacrificed all, and died in service to our great nation,” said Hill

ASG-KU personnel presented two ceremonial wreaths to Hill and Command Sgt. Maj. Manuel Rios, the 11th ECAB senior enlisted leader, to lay during the ceremony in honor of fallen service members.

“The day itself was referred to as Decoration Day, where flowers or otherwise were used to decorate the final resting place of those lost in battle; a day not directly associated with the anniversary of any particular battle, but a day where all conflicts on foreign or US soil can be observed,” said Hill.

The laying of wreaths is a tradition that demonstrates the continued appreciation of sacrifice and bravery shown by Service members both in the line of duty and after completing their military service.

Following the ceremony, BSB-KU personnel moved the wreaths to dining facilities on Camp Buehring to accompany two Missing Man Tables. At the main dining facility, Hill and Rios cut the first slices of a Memorial Day cake for mobilized service members to enjoy.

“What makes our great nation great is not only our military capabilities, but our rich history of military personnel willing to give it all to preserve and defend our ideals and freedom,” said Rios.

“We owe it to them and their families to remember their sacrifices and pass this honor and tradition to future generations.”

The 11th ECAB, mobilized as Task Force Eagle, is deployed in support of the Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve mission to advise, assist and enable partnered forces in the enduring defeat of Daesh within designated areas of Iraq and Syria.