RELEASE NUMBER: 141113-03
DATE POSTED: NOVEMBER 13, 2014
USASOC pays homage to veterans, valor recipients
FORT BRAGG, N.C. (USASOC News Service, Nov. 13, 2014) - More than 16 U.S. Army Special Operations Command valor recipients participated in the Fayetteville, N.C. Veteran’s Day parade Saturday, Nov. 8.
Participants included a Distinguished Service Cross recipient, four Silver Star recipients, six Bronze Star with Valor recipients and five Army Commendation Medals with Valor recipients. The majority of which were also Purple Heart recipients.
Veterans from all over the Fayetteville region were honored as thousands of supporters lined the streets in historic downtown Fayetteville. The theme for this year’s parade was honoring our nation’s Afghanistan war veterans, past, present and future.
A Military Information Support Operations Ground Mobility Vehicle broadcasted the following message in Spanish, French, Arabic and Indo: “On Behalf of the United States Army Special Operations Command, we thank you for your continued support to America’s troops.”
USASOC’s color guard led the precession representing subordinate units from the command.
USASOC Commanding General, Lt. Gen. Charles T. Cleveland, and Deputy Commanding General, Maj. Gen. Clarence K. Chinn viewed the parade with their wives from the reviewing stand, alongside Fayetteville Mayor Nat Robertson and other military and community dignitaries.
Following the parade, Chinn provided remarks to veterans at the North Carolina Veteran’s Park, across from the Airborne & Special Operations Museum. He reminded the crowd of more than 60 attendees, “the Soldiers in today’s all-volunteer Army chose to serve a cause greater than themselves; many made that decision knowing they may be sent in harm’s way.”
“Today we show our gratitude. And as we approach the eleventh day of the eleventh month – at the eleventh hour…let us reflect and remember our service men and women – let us remember their service and their sacrifice," he added. "On this day – we stop to salute our veterans. Our men and women of the eleventh hour.”