Posted on Jul 11, 2014
SPC Security Operations Engineer
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We as a military community honor our fallen, regardless of the circumstances of their passing. Some die in the wars we fight, others deaths are delayed by the haunting of war - all are equal in their sacrifice...

I want community feedback on the options outlined below, which I feel would enhance the community and bring us together to honor our fallen RallyPoint members.

On other prominent social media sites, individual pages can be memorialized after a person has passed away.

RP should institute a memorial page function for RP members who have died. This gives family members an opportunity to keep their account/posts alive but disabled from further posting, etc. It also allows RP members who are reading old posts the opportunity to know that they will not be getting a response from the individual.

A badge could be placed on a memorial account to inform people that the page is memorialized, from which active RP members can deduce that the individual will not respond to posts.

An estimated 22 soldiers a day are committing suicide alongside the suicide epidemic that has undertaken our Active Duty service members. I know we've all heard these numbers over and over and perhaps we have grown numb of them. Yet, at 4 a.m. on July 5th, Sgt. Shon D. Hill, a very active RallyPoint member committed suicide. We owe this individual our attention and we must honor the fact that the war did not end for him - it tarried with him and ultimately took his life.

I'm looking for feedback on whether the community at large believes this is a worthwhile task that RallyPoint should undertake. I would also like the community to provide additional suggestions, that way we can present a well thought out plan to the RallyPoint leaders.

For those of you who would like to express condolences, etc. - the link to the notification of Sgt. Shon D. Hill's death is attached.

R.I.P. - SGT Shon D. Hill
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Responses: 3
1SG Company First Sergeant
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There is a thread to honor those that are no longer with us. As far as memorializing the page, I think it could be done, I'm sure LTC Yinon Weiss will be along to take it into consideration. In the meantime here is the thread where we can post and honor those we wish to honor.

https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/remembering-those-who-served
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SPC Security Operations Engineer
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I see, thank you for sharing that.

I was more interested in highlighting RallyPoint members (people who contributed to the community) who have since passed. It would be nearly impossible to create a memorial page for each soldier/veteran who has died in general OR on RallyPoint and there are other websites out there that support this function. I intended this question to focus it more to home, (RallyPoint) members individual profile pages/accounts. Memorializing an account could also serve to disallow connection requests, messaging, etc. Perhaps it could allow for posts on the profile for close connections to write of their friend, etc.

I think placing a badge on their profile (such as yours - Blue Ribbon for excellent profile) so people know the individual is no longer with us would also be of great value.

Sgt. Hill was a VERY active person on RallyPoint and he contributed to many posts, as evidenced by his ranking of veterans. He thrived in this community as evidenced by his girlfriends comments when speaking of his passing.
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MSG Mechanic 2nd
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then when will this stop
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CPT Richard Riley
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I think with some thought & reflection, the RallyPoint Administration is contemplating what steps to take next. Ideas will bloom into a functional way to put our best foot forward and create something we can all embrace.

For members who feel strongly about this, send your thoughts to the RP administration and let them know your ideas and your support. We will have this in some form in the near future.
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MAJ Derrick J.
MAJ Derrick J.
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Once I get the US Air Honor Guard running after Congress approves the legislation I submitted, it would be another asset for serving our Veterans and service personnel.
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CPT Richard Riley
CPT Richard Riley
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MAJ Derrick J. Let me know when & I'll do what I can to work with you on this to the best of my ability.
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MAJ Derrick J.
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Edited >1 y ago
Thanks CPT Richard Riley - I am meeting with major money people soon, so we can get some lobbyists in DC to push on our Congress-Critters to get this done.

If you or anyone else wants to know more, go to: http://www.usaHonorGuard.com
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SPC Security Operations Engineer
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Sir, that link is non-functioning - I think you meant:
http://www.usahonorguard.com/
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MAJ Derrick J.
MAJ Derrick J.
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Thanks - its corrected now.
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