Team Malmstrom, local community honor the fallen

  • Published
  • By Chris Willis
  • 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  On Memorial Day, hundreds of people showed up to the Montana Veterans Memorial in Great Falls to pay tribute to the men and women who have served our country.

Members from the Malmstrom Air Force Base Honor Guard opened the ceremony by presenting the colors, and Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Mark Roberts, 341st Missile Wing chaplain, provided the invocation.

Later, names of fallen veterans from Montana killed while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan were read.

"This is the day that we give thanks to the men and women who have given the ultimate sacrifice for this country so that we can be here today celebrating," said U.S. Senator Jon Tester.

Guest speakers also pointed out that we still have young military members in harm ways, fighting the war on terror.

"Our Air Force is primarily made up of young men and women who joined after September 11," said Col. Tom Wilcox, 341st MW commander.  "These brave Airmen have never seen a time of peace."

A blessing lead by the Blackfeet tribe was performed after the unveiling of a new section of the memorial was dedicated to the tribe.

"When they go out there, they go out there with a mission, and it is that mission, that dedication, that willingness to do what they were told to do and what they had to do, that brings them back here today to be with you," said Marvin Weatherwax, a professor at Blackfeet Community College and one of the guest speakers.

Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III asked that all American flags be lowered to half-staff May 25 in town squares, on military bases, private homes and American government facilities around the world in everlasting tribute to those who gave their all in our Nation's defense.