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Honoring Fallen Fort Bliss Soldiers
(May 8, 2011) | 
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FORT BLISS, Texas (5/4/2011 - Fort Bliss and the Balfour Beatty
Communities Foundation dedicated the Field of Honor Memorial to fallen
Fort Bliss soldiers May 2 at Howze Stadium. |
Maj. Gen. Dana J.H. Pittard, Fort Bliss, Texas,
commanding general speaks at the Field of Honor Dedication Ceremony
May 2, 2011. |
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“This dedication means everything to me because I am here honoring
my son, Spc. Jamaal Addison,” said Patricia Roberts. “And when I
heard [Osama bin Laden] was killed, I thanked God because his timing
is perfect to know that all these people would be honored here
today.”
Fort Bliss leaders, soldiers, families and civilians,
and Balfour Beatty Communities Foundation officials gathered at the
ceremonial unveiling. The memorial commemorates Fort Bliss soldiers
who lost their lives after Sept. 11, 2001, during operations Iraqi
Freedom, Enduring Freedom and New |
Dawn.
“The last place he touched on U.S. soil is here and now
there is a place his son can see his father's name,” said Roberts.
Addison, a soldier who was assigned to the 507th Maintenance
Company, was killed in action March 2003 in Iraq during an ambush in
which several Fort Bliss soldiers were taken as prisoners of war.
When his father was killed, Roberts' grandson, Jamaal Addison II,
was a year old.
“I really miss him,” said Addison II. “I wish
he was here and could see how I have grown.”
Roberts and
Addison II were among a number of family members and love ones who
traveled to pay tribute to their fallen soldiers.
“When you
look at the Field of Honor, know that a lot of thought and design
went into its creation,” said Maj. Gen. Dana J. H. Pittard, Fort
Bliss commanding general. “The curve of the granite wall is symbolic
of strength. The flowing water represents life itself, constantly in
motion and ever-changing.”
There are 53 soldiers honored on
the wall, many served with the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry
Division, commanded by Brig. Gen. Stephen Twitty, a colonel at the
time.
“This ceremony brought back a lot of memories because a
majority of the soldiers I personally knew,” said Twitty, now Fort
Bliss' deputy commanding general. “I pretty much think about them
every day and the experiences that we went through while we were in
combat. This morning a lot of emotions went through me as I sat
there listening to every name and every date that these soldiers
were killed in action.”
Twitty said 33 of the soldiers he
lost are represented on the plaque; however, he lost a total of 44
soldiers, but the others were not stationed here.
“This
ceremony put faces of children, wives, dads and so forth back in
front of me,” Twitty added. “Oftentimes, we see the face of our
soldiers, but we do not see the faces of those they left behind. So,
it was a very emotional day seeing the young kids of these soldiers
that perished.”
Balfour Beatty Communities Foundation
designed and sponsored the Field of Honor Memorial here. According
to its website, the foundation is a nonprofit organization that
honors active, disabled and fallen military personnel through
building memorials, helping secure specially adapted homes, and
financial support to military children.
“We will never forget
you,” said Pittard. “Team Bliss will always remember your
sacrifice.”
Pittard emphasized to attendees that these fallen
Fort Bliss soldiers did not die in vain and that some buildings will
be named after the fallen comrades at East Fort Bliss. Pittard
stressed that bin Laden's death was an important milestone and the
nation will win the war of terror. |
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By Jade Fulce
Fort Bliss Public Affairs Office
Copyright 2011
Provided
through DVIDS
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