Remembering those who've fallen

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Michael Smith
  • 17th Training Wing Public Affairs
SAN ANGELO, Texas --  For a lot of people Memorial Day means a three-day weekend, splashing around in the pool and gorging on barbecue food.

However, for the All Veteran's Council of Tom Green County, Memorial Day means having the opportunity to hold a ceremony reminding San Angelo of the true purpose of the day, honoring those who have fallen, at the Tom Green County Courthouse May 25.

"Today the All Veteran's Council of Tom Green County is hosting this event to pay tribute to all the brave men and women who have given their lives in any American wars," said retired Air Force Lt. Col. John Muckleroy, All Veteran's Council chairman.

The event included the Goodfellow Air Force Base Joint Service Color Guard posting the colors while the Twin Mountain Tonesman sang the national anthem, a speech by Col. Kimberlee P. Joos, 17th Training Wing Commander, and a wreath laying.

"One key attribute which makes our military the greatest in the world is the code we follow, which leads us to honor our fallen. As freedom is only possible because of their ultimate sacrifice....tied to that honor is our pledge to never leave a fallen service member behind and seek resolution for all of our missing personnel" said Joos. "Sometimes this effort continues long after the war is over, the peace treaties are signed and the troops have come home."

Col. Joos spoke of the decades that the family of P-51 pilot Lt. William "Bill" Lewis waited to recover his remains from the former Nazi occupied Germany and bury him alongside his brother.

She also told the story of countless resources, money and time spent by Paul and Nita Clever from Aug. 1, 2011 to Aug. 31, 2014, to recover the remains of Air Force EC-47 crewmember Tech. Sgt. Louis Clever, their father, from the dense jungle in southern Laos.

"We will never forget," said Joos. "That's why Memorial Day continues to be so important, the sentiment we show by just being here today makes our country great."