Did hear about the National Guard dedicating a memorial to fallen soldiers?

2015-12-06T08:48:58-05:00

http://www.stripes.com/news/us/national-guard-dedicates-memorial-to-fallen-soldiers-1.382332
Did hear about the National Guard dedicating a memorial to fallen soldiers?

The memorial features a helmet, boots and rifle forming a “soldiers cross” or Battle Cross. A plaque identifies it as the Harley-Rabon-Dillon Memorial, and reads: “Dedicated in honor of these men and all American Warriors who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.”

U.S. Army Sgt. Raymond Henry vividly remembers the blast from an enemy improvised explosive device that picked him up and tossed him from behind his .50 caliber machine gun, clear of his gun turret, during a patrol in Afghanistan, on Oct. 1, 2010.

As forceful as the blast was, though, it wasn’t the toughest blow dealt to him that day.

The same explosion took the lives of two comrades – Staff Sgt. Willie Harley, of Aiken, and U.S. Army Sgt. Luther “Will” Rabon, of Lexington.

Henry said that he could still feel the blast as he wiped tears from his eyes Saturday morning while speaking of Harley, who he called his friend and mentor, and as his unit – the 1221st Route Clearance Engineering Company of the South Carolina Army National Guard – dedicated a Fallen Soldier Memorial at the Graniteville Armory to the memories of Harley, Rabon and former unit member and U.S. Marine Cpl. Matthew Dillon, who died in Iraq in 2006.

National Guard dedicates memorial to fallen soldiers

U.S. Army Sgt. Raymond Henry vividly remembers the blast from an enemy improvised explosive device that picked him up and tossed him from behind his .50 caliber machine gun, clear of his gun turret, during a patrol in Afghanistan, on Oct. 1, 2010.

Response by SFC Terry Fortune made Dec 6 at 2015 9:59 AM

2015-12-06T09:59:34-05:00

I like it, but I agree with TSgt Hunter Logan it want take long before someone complains about it.

Response by MAJ Alvin B. made Dec 6 at 2015 11:21 AM

2015-12-06T11:21:50-05:00

I am surprised it had not been done earlier.

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Dec 6 at 2015 3:14 PM

2015-12-06T15:14:36-05:00

COL Mikel J. Burroughs I did not hear about the National Guard dedicating a memorial to fallen soldiers from Afghanistan [OEF] and Iraq [OIF]. I think that there are a vast number of memorials to fallen soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines in this nation - many from the Civil War, with some from WWI and most from WWII and others for those killed in Vietnam and Korea.
I am thankful that there are many areas of this nation which still honor our war dead and hopefully there are many areas which actually honor our veterans from all wars.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 6 at 2015 4:00 PM

2015-12-06T16:00:31-05:00

The are hundreds of them from NGB all I've the 50 states and territories that are the National Guard (Air and Army).

Response by MSgt Curtis Ellis made Dec 6 at 2015 5:37 PM

2015-12-06T17:37:53-05:00

Awesome! There shouldn't be any responses from the religious idiots since it doesn't look like a cross, and it IS NOT a religious memorial... (keeping my fingers crossed) It would seem the planners for this memorial actually did their homework. I think this one will be there for a while!

Response by COL Ted Mc made Dec 7 at 2015 2:52 AM

2015-12-07T02:52:06-05:00

COL Mikel J. Burroughs - Mikel; Strangers will only know what friends remember and memorialize.

Good for those soldiers.

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made May 13 at 2017 1:20 PM

2017-05-13T13:20:31-04:00

Thank you for the great notification.

Response by SSgt Robert Marx made May 13 at 2017 1:22 PM

2017-05-13T13:22:59-04:00

Wow, it is about time for a memorial to be established.

Response by SPC Douglas Bolton made May 13 at 2017 7:11 PM

2017-05-13T19:11:42-04:00

COL Mikel J. Burroughs Good stuff.

Response by Sgt Albert Castro made May 13 at 2017 7:14 PM

2017-05-13T19:14:37-04:00

Col Mikel Burroughs thanks for the intel Sir. Can we ever thank our fallen Worriers enough for their ultimate sacrifice? I think not. Build memorials every damn place we can put one! These men and women gave their lives for something few have. American Freedom. The atheists and ACLU types can kiss our collective asses! May our fallen NEVER be forgotten.
Ooha!

Response by Samantha S. made May 13 at 2017 7:39 PM

2017-05-13T19:39:07-04:00

Uncertain if anyone had the opportunity to listen to our Presidents commencement speech at Liberty University today, he was inspiring and very spiritual, openly acknowledged we are One Nation Under God and God is mentioned four times in our Declaration of Independence, I believe very soon the words and misguided deeds of the faithless will fall on deaf ears in America.

Response by Private RallyPoint Member made May 13 at 2017 8:48 PM

2017-05-13T20:48:53-04:00

EVERY memorial to a fallen soldier or soldiers was Earned ! EVERY soldier who serves his/her tour Is a HERO in my book, Especially those who lay down their lives for a government that does Not care enough about their well being, to provide Proper Medical care for those who survive !
My hat is off to EVERY military man/woman who serves, you are all HEROES !!!

Response by SP5 Dave (Shotgun) Shockley made May 14 at 2017 10:00 AM

2017-05-14T10:00:16-04:00

Heart felt tribute. We should see more of these to remember our fallen, and pray that there will be fewer in the future. Most of us know the feeling of loosing friends that gave their all. We can never do or say enough to thank them.

Response by SSG Eduardo Ybarra Jr. MS Psyc made May 14 at 2017 12:27 PM

2017-05-14T12:27:31-04:00

This tribute reminds me of Henry Johnson aka "The Black Death". A WWI Veteran who was never recognized for his sacrifices during a battle in the Ardennes Forest where he suffered multiple gunshot and stab wounds. It wasn't until Clinton was in office where he finally received his Purple Heart and I think just recently was awarded the MoH. This is a great memorial, hopefully it will remain unmolested and intact for future generations.

Response by Sgt William Straub Jr. made May 15 at 2017 8:49 AM

2017-05-15T08:49:13-04:00

A touching and deserved monument to the fallen National Guardsmen. Whether deployed or not, they are, in every sense, American Warriors. Hero's of this nation and willing to sacrifice all for their families and communities. God Bless them.

Response by CMDCM John F. "Doc" Bradshaw made May 17 at 2017 10:41 PM

2017-05-17T22:41:56-04:00

We need more Memorials to remind the People of the Sacrifices our Armed Forces Members make everyday while they go about their normal Lives in Freedom!!! Thank a Veteran, Lest We Ever Forget!!!

Response by SGT Robert George made Jul 9 at 2017 2:29 PM

2017-07-09T14:29:35-04:00

The memorial sounds like a super good Idea !!!! Thanks !!!

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Jul 9 at 2017 6:15 PM

2017-07-09T18:15:08-04:00

This is a great share, it's great to hear about them honoring these fallen comrades.

Response by MSgt Jim Bain made Jul 13 at 2017 12:27 PM

2017-07-13T12:27:57-04:00

Every National Guard unit, from every state in our Union, should have a Memorial to there fallen troops. The public I think, forgets very fast about the neighbor next door that leaves for their monthly drill, they don't realize, when their activated and sent overseas their is a strong possibility they will not come home. Guardsmen, male and female have sacrificed there lives for our country in every war we have ever fought, both Army and Air National Guard. They evolved from the first man to pick up a musket during our Revolutionary war, they should be remembered always!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 7 at 2021 1:22 PM

2021-04-07T13:22:48-04:00

first time I see this the we have something like this for the NG Soldiers thanks for that....I have to do some of the notifications but never know the if we have one in California.

Response by SGT David Schrader made Apr 28 at 2022 1:06 PM

2022-04-28T13:06:55-04:00

What a great honor

Response by LTC Patrick Turner made Dec 18 at 2022 9:27 AM

2022-12-18T09:27:59-05:00

I think this is a fantastic idea!