Veteran Recognition Ceremonies

Images showcase ceremonies honoring World War II veterans and POWs, celebrating their service and sacrifices with commemorative gestures and shared stories.

111207-N-OV802-055VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (Dec.7, 2011) Frank Chebetar, president of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association, Tidewater Chapter 2, speaks with Capt. Charles L. Stuppard, base commander of Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, before a Pearl Harbor remembrance ceremony. The Pearl Harbor Survivors Association, founded in 1958, is an organization dedicated to the remembrance of the attacks on Pearl Harbor and those who gave their lives that day.

111207-N-YM863-211 NORCO, Calif.. (Dec 7, 2011) Former WWII Navy Machinery Repairman 1st Class Bob Dunn salutes as taps is played during the Pearl Harbor Remembrance Ceremony at Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach, Detachment Norco. More than 350 veterans, active duty and civilian personnel gathered at Norco to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor.

World War II Veterans and representatives of those who could not be in attendance receive a challenge coin at the Eternal Heroes Monument in Normandy, France, June 2, 2022. World War II Veterans and representatives of the 82nd Airborne Division and 101st Airborne Divisions (Air Assault) came to honor fallen Paratroopers who liberated Ravenoville in June of 1944.

World War II Veterans and representatives of those who could not be in attendance receive a challenge coin at the Eternal Heroes Monument in Normandy, France, June 2, 2022. World War II Veterans and representatives of the 82nd Airborne Division and 101st Airborne Divisions (Air Assault) came to honor fallen Paratroopers who liberated Ravenoville in June of 1944.

111207-N-XS652-007 VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (Dec. 7, 2011) Frank Chebetar, president of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association, Tidewater Chapter 2, salutes at a Pearl Harbor memorial with his daughter before the Pearl Harbor Remembrance Ceremony at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story. The event commemorated the 70th anniversary of the attack on the Pearl Harbor.

111207-N-OV802-055VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (Dec.7, 2011) Frank Chebetar, president of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association, Tidewater Chapter 2, speaks with Capt. Charles L. Stuppard, base commander of Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, before a Pearl Harbor remembrance ceremony. The Pearl Harbor Survivors Association, founded in 1958, is an organization dedicated to the remembrance of the attacks on Pearl Harbor and those who gave their lives that day.

220604-N-LV695-1101 SAN DIEGO (June 4, 2022) Battle of Midway veteran, Charles Monroeaccepts a coin during the commemoration ceremony of the 80 th anniversary of the Battle ofMidway and the Centennial of U.S. Navy Aircraft Carriers at the USS Midway Museum in SanDiego, June 4. The U.S. Navys determination, zeal, and valor at the Battle of Midway, foughtJune 4-7, 1942, halted the Imperial Japanese navys advance and turned the tide of the war in thePacific during World War II. Victory at Midway redefined Naval warfare, showcasing theaircraft carrier as the Navys preeminent power projection platform.

Randall Roberts greets William B. Busier after the POW/MIA Day observance at Camp Johnson, Vermont, on Sept. 16, 2022. POW/MIA Day is observed the third Friday of September to honor veterans who were held as prisoners of war or who were missing in action. Busier was captured by Nazi Germans and held at Stalag Luft 9A for six months. Roberts is a former commander of the Col. Donald G. Cook chapter of the Disabled American Veterans charity.

221207-N-PX557-0100HARRISBURG, Pa.(Dec. 07, 2022)Rear Adm. Peter Stamatopoulos, Commander, Naval Supply Systems Command/Chief of Supply Corps, speaks with Pennsylvania Pearl Harbor survivor, Army Staff Sgt. Richard Schimmel, during the 81st Anniversary Pearl Harbor Remembrance Ceremony at the Pennsylvania State Capitol, Dec. 7. Sailors and Marines from across central Pennsylvania participated in the ceremony to honor families of the attack on Pearl Harbor. During the ceremony, Stamatopoulos provided guest speaker remarks.U.S. Navy photo by James E. Foehl (Released)

060930-N-0696M-040. Base: Boston State: Massachusetts (MA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Private 2nd Class (ret.) Warren H. Schuster watches a memorial video with family and a Soldier from 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, during his visit to Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, Oct. 21, 2022. Accompanied by his three daughters, 91-year-old Schuster visited the 25th Inf. Div. and his prior unit more than seven decades after fighting and subsequently being injured in the Korean War.

Private 2nd Class (ret.) Warren H. Schuster speaks with Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, during his visit to Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, Oct. 21, 2022. Accompanied by his three daughters, 91-year-old Schuster visited the 25th Inf. Div. and his prior unit more than seven decades after fighting and subsequently being injured in the Korean War.

U.S. Army World War II Veteran, Pfc. Reid F. Clanton, is celebrated at the historic Quadrangle of Joint Base San Antonio- Fort Sam Houston, Texas, May 16, 2022, for his contributions while serving in the military during WWII. U.S. Army North leaders paid special tribute to the service of Clanton during a ceremony awarding him long-overdue medals, which included the Bronze Star Medal at the U.S. Army North headquarters.

040830-F-1936B-037. Base: Eagle Base State: Tuzla Country: Bosnia And/I Herzegovina (BIH)

Clyde Cassidy and William Busier speak to each other before the annual POW/MIA Day ceremony at Camp Johnson, Vermont, on Sept. 16, 2022. POW/MIA Day is observed on the third Friday of each September to honor veterans who were held as prisoners of war or who are missing in action. Cassidy was held by Nazis for 15 months, including a 70-day forced march across parts of Europe. Busier was held at Stalag Luft 4 in Poland for nine months.

Clyde Cassidy and William Busier speak to each other before the annual POW/MIA Day ceremony at Camp Johnson, Vermont, on Sept. 16, 2022. POW/MIA Day is observed on the third Friday of each September to honor veterans who were held as prisoners of war or who are missing in action. Cassidy was held by Nazis for 15 months, including a 70-day forced march across parts of Europe. Busier was held at Stalag Luft 4 in Poland for nine months.

011027-F-1166S-006. Complete Scene Caption: Bill Hammond, Retired United States Army, observes a moment of silence at Liberty State Park, New Jersey during the "Support Our Troops" rally for national "Make a Difference Day." Veteran of Foreign Wars (VFW) and its Ladies Auxiliary, in cooperation with the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs sponsored the rally. The event hosted numerous entertainment acts for the 15,000 attending the three-hour rally. "Americas armed forces are gearing up for a long and arduous war on an invisible, but terrifying enemy," said VFW Commander-in-CHIEF Jim N. Goldsmith. "We are asking a lot from our men and women in the military, which is why it is imperative that we show them our support. The rally also will demonstrate to the world that the actions of September 11 and the recent anthrax exposures have not diminished our resolve, but have actually served to strengthened our unity as a nation." Base: Liberty State Park State: New Jersey

U.S. Air Force Col. Scott Mills, 355th Wing commander, speaks with former POW veteran Walter Ram at the POW/MIA Recognition Ceremony at the Pima Air and Space Museum in Tucson, Arizona, Sept. 16, 2022. Established in 1979 and celebrated on the third Friday in September, POW/MIA Recognition Day honors those who were held captive and returned, as well as those who remain missing.

Maj. Gen. Charles Costanza, the 3rd Infantry Division commanding general, pins U.S Army Veteran Staff Sgt. Harold Nelson, an infantryman and Dogface Soldier, the Silver Star Medal during an award ceremony at Fort Carson, Colorado, Oct. 4th, 2022. Nelson, now 107 years old, was drafted into the United States Army on July 14, 1941, from Fort Crook, Nebraska. He entered World War II with F Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, as part of Operation Torch in Morocco. Following intense fighting in Northern Africa, Nelson participated in Operation Husky in Sicily, and Operations Avalanche and Shingle in Italy. The 3rd ID also inducted Nelson into the Marne Hall of Fame class of 2022.

U.S Army Maj. Gen. Van McCarty, adjutant general for South Carolina, and other U.S. Army National Guard Soldiers with the South Carolina National Guard attend the 9/11 Morning of Remembrance Ceremony, Sept. 11, 2022, at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center in Columbia, South Carolina. During the ceremony, Soldiers and Airmen from the South Carolina Army and Air National Guard participated in the ceremony by playing music, conducting a fly over, and presenting gifts and flowers to family members of those servicemembers and first responders who have given their lives in the service of others.

050122-A-5560M-162. Base: Camp Tortuguero State: Puerto Rico (PR) Country: United States Of America (USA) Scene Major Command Shown: SOUTHEAST

Sergeant First Class Modesto Cartagena, left, Command Sergeant Major (CSM) Angel Kuiland, center and CSM Jose Pena, right, veterans of the Korean war during a ceremony being held at the US Army Reserve center in Puerto Nuevo, Puerto Rico, marking the presentation of a plaque honoring the bravery, and sacrifice of all veterans of the Korean War. Much praise was given to members of the fighting 65th Infantry veterans, who were some of the most highly decorated soldiers of the Korean war. Base: Usarc Puerto Nuevo State: Puerto Rico (PR) Country: United States Of America (USA) Scene Major Command Shown: MACOMS

Richard H. Hamilton and William B. Busier speak before the POW/MIA Day observance at Camp Johnson, Vermont, on Sept. 16, 2022. POW/MIA Day is observed the third Friday of September to honor veterans who were held as prisoners of war or who were missing in action. Hamilton was held at Stalag Luft 4 in Poland for 9 months. Busier was held at Stalag Luft 9A for six months.

After 72 years, Pfc. Kenneth LeRoy Bridger was finally laid to rest and closure was given to his family during a full military honors graveside ceremony held in Twin Falls, Idaho, on May 21. Bridger was reported missing in action on Nov. 30, 1950, while serving alongside his fellow U.S. troops during the war against North Korea. Bridgers remains were identified on Jan. 26, 2022. Bridger was just 17 years old when he went missing and was a member of Company K, 3rd Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. He enlisted into the U.S. Army from Colville, Washington, but his remaining family resides in Idaho where he was laid to rest next to his brothers and his mother. Bridgers four living siblings, along with their families, attended the private ceremony. Maj. Gen. Michael Garshak, Idahos adjutant general, presented Wilber Bridger, Pfc. Bridgers brother and oldest surviving relative, the U.S. flag and the Purple Heart on his brother's behalf. Bridgers brothers Lynn and Halb

Sgt. Maj. Brian Watson (right), 2nd Brigade Combat Team Operations Sergeant Major speaks with a WWII Veteran after the completion of a memorial service on Sept. 11, 2022, at Veghel, Netherlands. 101st Airborne Division (AASLT) units honor World War II Veterans and the people of Holland by participating in Operation Market Garden 78 commemorations in and around Eindhoven, Netherlands. (U.S. Army photos by Staff Sgt. Malcolm Cohens-Ashley, 2nd Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs.) )

Retired Chief Yeoman Bill Norberg, a Battle of Midway veteran, speaks with guests during the Battle of Midway 80th Anniversary Commemoration dinner at the Army Navy Country Club in Arlington, Virginia, June 3. Norberg served aboard USS Enterprise (CV 6) during the Battle of Midway and World War II. The commemoration dinner, hosted by various non-profit organizations, celebrates the U.S. Navy's victory at the Battle of Midway and honors veterans like Norberg.

Surrounded by family and friends, last month, 94-year-old Sgt. Walter Leman Messley celebrated his birthday and he had one final wish - to have his service and legacy honored one last time with his loved ones. On Sunday, April 2, 2023, two members of the Idaho Army National Guards Honor Guard joined Messleys family and friends at Meridian Meadows Transitional Care to honor his service with a flag-folding ceremony and present him with his own U.S. flag in recognition of his service.

World War II veterans attended and were honored during the Carre de Choux (Cabbage Patch) Ceremony in Carentan, France, on June 3, 2022. This ceremony commemorates the 78th Anniversary of D-Day, the largest multi-national amphibious landing and operational military airdrop in history. The Cabbage Patch Commemoration Ceremony and Parade paid homage to the Paratroopers of the 101st Airborne Division who fought enemy forces occupying this area surrounding Carentan.

031111-M-4697Y-028. Former military servicemen gather for the Veteran's Day Ceremony at Quantico, Virginia (VA). The ceremony is held each year to honor those who have both served and died for their country.

U.S. Army World War II Veteran, Pfc. Reid F. Clanton, speaks at a recognition ceremony in the historic Quadrangle of Joint Base San Antonio- Fort Sam Houston, Texas, May 16, 2022. U.S. Army North leaders paid special tribute to the service of Clanton during a ceremony awarding him long-overdue medals, which included the Bronze Star Medal at the U.S. Army North headquarters.

Portrait of elderly Korean War veteran

Army Lt. Gen. Harold Moore, ret., and Gen. George W. Casey Jr., Chief of Staff of the Army, answer questions during a press conference at the conclusion of the American Citizenship Trust National Freedom ceremony in Montevallo AL, Feb. 15, 2010. Moore who was portrayed by Mel Gibson in the movie "We were Soldiers" was the first reciepent of the National Freedom Award gave the keynote address during this years presentation to the joint recipients Maj. Gen. George W. Casey, Sr., posthumously, and Gen. George W. Casey, Jr. US

PEARL HARBOR (Dec. 7, 2022) Hawaii Gov. Josh Green greets Pearl Harbor survivor, Jack Holder during a Pearl Harbor Remembrance ceremony. Dec. 7, 2022 marks the 81st anniversary of the attacks on Pearl Harbor and Oahu. The U.S. military, State of Hawaii and National Park Service are hosting a series of remembrance events throughout the week to honor the courage and sacrifices of those who served throughout the Pacific theater. The U.S. is committed to continue its responsibility of protecting the Pacific sea-lanes, advancing international ideals and relationships, as well as delivering security, influence and responsiveness in the region.

000917-N-1110A-505. Base: Norfolk State: Virginia (VA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

U.S. Army Command Sgt. Major Stephen LaRocque, with Garrison Rheinland-Pfalz lends an arm to the ceremony's oldest retiree during a Retiree Appreciation Day forum at the Officer Club in Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Oct. 13, 2022. More than 350 attended the event where breakfast was provided along with updated guidance on health and tax benefits. Recognizing the oldest and the youngest retiree is a tradition of the event.

World War II Battle of Midway Veteran, Sergeant First Class Edgar R Fox, attends a harbor tour at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, June 7, 2022. Fox was also a part of the 36-day battle for the island of Iwo Jima.

U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Joseph A. Dinonno, deputy commanding general of the 29th Infantry Division, takes a bouquet during a commemoration ceremony at Grandcamp-Maisy, France, June 5, 2022. This ceremony honored Cpt. Corvette Phillipe Kieffer, a French Navy Green Beret officer who led his men in the liberation of France during the D-Day landings.

070224-M-1726S-087. Base: Marine Corps Air Station, Yuma State: Arizona (AZ) Country: United States Of America (USA) Scene Major Command Shown: MCAS YUMA

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen and Rear Adm. John Mauger, commander, First Coast Guard District, present Dwight A. Smith, Jr. the Congressional Gold Medal on behalf of his late father, Capt. Dwight A. Smith, a Merchant Mariner who served during World War II, during a ceremony in Tilton, New Hampshire, Aug 31, 2022. In 2020, Congress passed the Merchant Mariners of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act to recognize merchant mariners for their courage and contributions during the war.

120815-A-FQ119-035 CAMP SHELBY, Miss. (Aug. 15, 2012) Lt. Col. Philippe Testart, a French army liaison officer, pins the French Legion of Honor on WWII U.S. Navy veteran Oscar Russell as his grandson Lt. Rodney Brock, assigned to the 177th Armored Brigade, First Army Division East, looks on. Mr. Russell was part of the first wave of U.S. GI's to hit Omaha Beach during the battle of Normandy June 6, 1944.

Retired SGT. MAJ. M. A. Delgado is presented a Unit Coin by MAJ. GEN. R. I. Neal, Commanding General, Second Marine Division during the 50th anniversary ceremony of the Battle at Tarawa. Base: Marine Corps Base, Camp Lejeune State: North Carolina (NC) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Former F-105 Thunderchief pilots and their family members visit Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, Nov. 3, 2022. They visited Davis-Monthan during an F-105 pilot reunion where they saw an A-10 Thunderbolt II Demonstration Team training flight, talked to current pilots, and received a history brief on the 355th Wing.

World War II veteran is saluted to during the Carre de Choux (Cabbage Patch) Ceremony in Carentan, France, June 3, 2022. This ceremony commemorates the 78th Anniversary of D-Day, the largest multi-national amphibious landing and operational military airdrop in history. The Cabbage Patch Commemoration Ceremony and Parade paid homage to the Paratroopers of the 101st Airborne Division who fought enemy forces occupying this area surrounding Carentan.

USA, New Mexico, Albuquerque Old Town Plaza Navajo Code Talkers. (MR)

PEARL HARBOR (Dec. 6, 2022) Chaplin, Lt. Cdr. Justin Bernard meets Jack Holder, a Pearl Harbor survivor, during the 'Blackened Canteen' ceremony at the USS Arizona Memorial. The blackened canteen, which was pulled from the ashes during World War II, is seen as an inspiration for peace. Its blackness and heat-distorted shape represent the inevitability of conflict, yet its presence represents eternal hope for a future of peaceful understanding and reconciliation between former enemies.

U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Mark J. Schindler, center, the adjutant general of Pennsylvania, speaks with a veteran. As the leader of the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, he is responsible for the command and control of approximately 18,500 Army and Air National Guard members, a complement of 2,500 commonwealth employees and six state-owned Veterans homes and programs for Pennsylvanias nearly 800,000 Veterans.

Coast Guard Auxiliarist Perry Ducote interacts with the public at the Madisonville Wooden Boat Festival in Madisonville, Louisiana on Oct. 16, 2022. The Coast Guard Auxiliary is made up of men and women who volunteer to keep the boating public safe.

Maj. Gen. Allan M. Pepin (left), commanding general, Joint Task Force - National Capital Region and the U.S. Military District of Washington, speaks with Darrell Bush (right), 98, a former U.S. Army Staff Sergeant and a WWII veteran of the Battle of the Bulge, at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va., Jan. 25, 2023. Bush was at ANC to view a wreath-laying ceremony at the Battle of the Bulge monument, commemorating the ending of the Battle of the Bulge on this date in 1945.The Battle of the Bulge, described by Winston Churchill as "undoubtedly the greatest American battle" of World War II, took place in the Ardennes Forest region of Belgium and Luxembourg from December 16, 1944, to January 25, 1945. The last major German counteroffensive on the Western Front, it ended in victory for Allied forces under the command of General Dwight D. Eisenhower but at great cost. Soldiers fought in brutal winter conditions, and the U.S. Army lost approximately 19,000 men (and suffered some 75,00

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt Daniel Nunn, a trombone instrumentalist with the 2d Marine Division Band meets a veteran after performing at Les Invalides in Paris, France, May 24, 2022. The purpose of their visit to Les Invalides was to perform for the disabled veterans of the French Military who were wounded in war.

061206-N-4965F-008. Base: Pearl Harbor State: Hawaii (HI) Country: United States Of America (USA)

After 72 years, Pfc. Kenneth LeRoy Bridger was finally laid to rest and closure was given to his family during a full military honors graveside ceremony held in Twin Falls, Idaho, on May 21. Bridger was reported missing in action on Nov. 30, 1950, while serving alongside his fellow U.S. troops during the war against North Korea. Bridgers remains were identified on Jan. 26, 2022. Bridger was just 17 years old when he went missing and was a member of Company K, 3rd Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. He enlisted into the U.S. Army from Colville, Washington, but his remaining family resides in Idaho where he was laid to rest next to his brothers and his mother. Bridgers four living siblings, along with their families, attended the private ceremony. Maj. Gen. Michael Garshak, Idahos adjutant general, presented Wilber Bridger, Pfc. Bridgers brother and oldest surviving relative, the U.S. flag and the Purple Heart on his brother's behalf. Bridgers brothers Lynn and Halb

World War II Veterans and representatives of those who could not be in attendance receive a challenge coin at the Eternal Heroes Monument in Normandy, France, June 2, 2022. World War II Veterans and representatives of the 82nd Airborne Division and 101st Airborne Divisions (Air Assault) came to honor fallen Paratroopers who liberated Ravenoville in June of 1944.

000917-N-1110A-501. Base: Norfolk State: Virginia (VA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Retired U.S. Navy CWO Mike OConner and U.S. Air Force veteran Jeffrey Jewell take a selfie during the passenger terminal renaming and flight line monument marker dedication ceremony at Travis Air Force Base, California, March 31, 2023. The event was part of the 50th anniversary of Operation Homecoming commemoration to honor and celebrate American prisoners of war returning from Vietnam in 1973.

220518-N-OH262-0327 WASHINGTON D.C. (May 18, 2022)--World War II era Merchant Mariners display their Congressional Gold Medals during a ceremony held at the U.S. Capital held to honor Merchant Mariners of WWII, May 18. During WWII Merchant Mariners put their lives on the line for their country, braving German and Japanese submarines, in their Liberty Ships, as they delivered critical supplies for service members serving in the European and Pacific theaters.

World War II Veterans and representatives of those who could not be in attendance receive a challenge coin at the Eternal Heroes Monument in Normandy, France, June 2, 2022. World War II Veterans and representatives of the 82nd Airborne Division and 101st Airborne Divisions (Air Assault) came to honor fallen Paratroopers who liberated Ravenoville in June of 1944.

A new helicopter training landing pad at Muir Army Airfield is dedicated to Chief Warrant Officer 3 Matthew Ruffner and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Jarett Yoder during a ceremony in the Aviation Maintenance Instruction Building here.The two pilots were killed April 9, 2013 when the AH-64 Apache helicopter they were flying crashed during a flight mission in Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan. They were serving on a combat deployment with Bravo Company, 1-104th Attack Reconnaissance Battalion, 28th Combat Aviation Brigade during Operation Enduring Freedom.

Veterans of the Vietnam War were invited to the 81st Readiness Division by Commanding General Maj. Gen. Robert D. Harter for a ceremony held in their honor yesterday.

Jerry Ackerman, a former U.S. Navy corpsman who served during World War II, looks at a photo while visiting Field Medical Training Battalion - West, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, June 27, 2022. In 1944 Jerry and Jack Gutman became best friends while training on Camp Pendleton only to be separated during World War II without knowing of each other's whereabouts until 75 years later.

221021-N-CY569-1259 NORFOLK, Va. (Oct. 21, 2022) Chief Operations Specialist Nicholas Bednarz dons his cover during a pinning ceremony in the hangar bay aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75). Truman is the flagship of the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group and is currently in port at Naval Station Norfolk.

040820-M-3980Y-034. Base: 29 Palms State: California (CA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

A retired U.S. Marine is presented with a piece of birthday cake during the 6th Marine Corps District 247th Marine Corps birthday ball at the Marriott Savannah Riverfront hotel, Savannah, Georgia, Nov. 17, 2022. The Marine was spending time with his fellow retirees when he was promptly invited to take part in the traditional ceremony by the 6MCD Commanding Officer, Col. Lance Langfeldt, to honor his service around 50 years prior.

Retired Army Col. Walter Joseph Marm Jr., right, and Nicholas Oresko, center, both recipients of the Medal of Honor, attend Veterans Day activities at Madison Square Park in New York City, New York honoring war veterans Nov. 11, 2011. Oresko is the oldest living Medal of Honor recipient.

Capt. Warren Judge, the commanding officer of U.S. Coast Guard Training Center Cape May, N.J., and members of the recruit ceremonial honor guard participate in the Cape May County Veterans Day ceremony, Nov. 11, 2022, along with other dignitaries including Congressman Jeff Van Drew, Cape May County Commissioners, and other first responders. Every member of our Coast Guard workforce protects our Nation's security and prosperity in times of war and peace. The missions we perform along the U.S. coastlines, on the Great Lakes, on the inland rivers, and around the world enable a safe, secure, and stable maritime system on which our Nation depends.

SANTA FE, N.M. - Sgt. 1st Class Leroy A. Petry, 75th Ranger Regiment Medal of Honor recipient, greets Cpl. Vicente Ojinaga, a Bataan Death March survivor, at the Santa Fe Convention Center, Aug. 1. This was Petrys the first visit to Santa Fe since receiving the Medal of Honor, July 12.

011027-F-1166S-002. Complete Scene Caption: An Armed Forces Veteran shows his patriotism at Liberty State Park, New Jersey during the "Support Our Troops" rally for national "Make a Difference Day." Veteran of Foreign Wars (VFW) and its Ladies Auxiliary, in cooperation with the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs sponsored the rally. The event hosted numerous entertainment acts for the 15,000 attending the three-hour rally. "Americas armed forces are gearing up for a long and arduous war on an invisible, but terrifying enemy," said VFW Commander-in-CHIEF Jim N. Goldsmith. "We are asking a lot from our men and women in the military, which is why it is imperative that we show them our support. The rally also will demonstrate to the world that the actions of September 11 and the recent anthrax exposures have not diminished our resolve, but have actually served to strengthened our unity as a nation." Base: Liberty State Park State: New Jersey (NJ) Country: United State

WASHINGTON (May 2, 2017) Thurman E. Scott Sr., a veteran of World War II and the Korean War, speaks with Cmdr. Eddy Ha, chief of staff at the Naval History and Heritage Command, during a tour of the National Museum of the U.S. Navy. Scott and four of his brothers served in the Navy while the fifth served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II.

Retired Admiral Arleigh A. Burke, namesake of the guided missile destroyer ARLEIGH BURKE (DDG 51), looks out from the ship's bridge as the vessel heads down river for sea trials off the coast of Maine. The ARLEIGH BURKE is one of the few ships that has ever been named for a living person. Base: Bath Kennebec River State: Maine (ME) Country: United States Of America (USA)

U.S. Army Staff Sergeant (retired) Michael Harkness, airborne ranger, stands in front of the veterans memorial during a Memorial Day service at the Tom Green County Courthouse Lawn, San Angelo, Texas, May 30, 2022. Harkness is currently acting as the junior vice commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1815.

World War II Battle of Midway Veteran, First Class Water Tender Julian Hodges, attends a harbor tour at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, June 7, 2022. Hodges was in and out of the hospital five times tending to his battle injuries before being medically retired from service.

SANTA FE, N.M. - A military veteran and Patriot Guard rider salutes Sgt. 1st Class Leroy A. Petry, 75th Ranger Regiment Medal of Honor recipient, as he arrives in Albuquerque airport, July 29. More than 500 family, friends and military veterans awaited his arrival to his home state. Petry visited his hometown for the first time since receiving the Medal of Honor, July 12.

Military Womens Memorial President Emeritus Air Force Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Wilma L. Vaught stands for the national anthem during the Military Womens Memorial 25th Anniversary Ceremony at the Military Womens Memorial in Arlington, Va., Oct. 15, 2022.

Lt. Gen. Daniel Karbler, commanding general of U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command, speaks with Air Force Korean War-era veteran Charles Townson during the Floyd E. Tut Fann State Veterans Homes Memorial Day ceremony on Monday. Karbler addressed the veterans and family members present to honor the ultimate sacrifice Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, Coast Guardsmen and Guardians have made throughout the years, as well as remind veterans they are never forgotten.

Mr. Jerimiah Tuttle, a U.S. Navy World War II veteran, shows photos of his past to U.S. Army Sgt. Edward Doyle, a Soldier assigned to the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), during a meet and greet with World War II veterans and Soldiers assigned to the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) at Veghel, Netherlands, Sept. 15, 2022. The 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) honors World War II veterans who demonstrated selfless service and sacrifice that characterizes the Greatest Generation in defense of global peace and security.

040305-F-0558K-025. Base: Barksdale Air Force Base State: Louisiana (LA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Members of Scott Air Force Base listen to a POW/MIA closing ceremony speech on Scott AFB, Illinois, Sept. 16, 2022. The ceremony included a speech from Wilbert Vince” Rolves, who was a POW for 18 months in Germany during World War II and is a recipient of a Silver Star, Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts.

Maj. Gen. Allan M. Pepin (left), commanding general, Joint Task Force - National Capital Region and the U.S. Military District of Washington, speaks with Darrell Bush (right), 98, a former U.S. Army Staff Sergeant and a WWII veteran of the Battle of the Bulge, at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va., Jan. 25, 2023. Bush was at ANC to view a wreath-laying ceremony at the Battle of the Bulge monument, commemorating the ending of the Battle of the Bulge on this date in 1945.The Battle of the Bulge, described by Winston Churchill as "undoubtedly the greatest American battle" of World War II, took place in the Ardennes Forest region of Belgium and Luxembourg from December 16, 1944, to January 25, 1945. The last major German counteroffensive on the Western Front, it ended in victory for Allied forces under the command of General Dwight D. Eisenhower but at great cost. Soldiers fought in brutal winter conditions, and the U.S. Army lost approximately 19,000 men (and suffered some 75,00

Family members of Petty Officer 1st Class Beoin Corzatt watch as their relative is laid to rest during an interment ceremony held at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu, Sept. 21, 2022. The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) and attending family members paid their respects and honored the life of Corzatt, who was assigned to the USS Oklahoma when the ship was attacked by Japanese aircraft during World War II. Corzatt was accounted for on Dec. 17, 2020, nearly 80 years after the attacks on Pearl Harbor.

Family members of Petty Officer 1st Class Beoin Corzatt watch as their relative is laid to rest during an interment ceremony held at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu, Sept. 21, 2022. The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) and attending family members paid their respects and honored the life of Corzatt, who was assigned to the USS Oklahoma when the ship was attacked by Japanese aircraft during World War II. Corzatt was accounted for on Dec. 17, 2020, nearly 80 years after the attacks on Pearl Harbor.

Maj. Gen. David Hodne, commanding general of 4th Infantry Division and Fort Carson, puts a green jacket on Charles Watkins, a Good Neighbor inductee, during the 45th annual Fort Carson Good Neighbor Induction Luncheon, April 14, 2022, at Fort Carson, Colorado. Watkins was inducted because of his support to the Army community and military Families.

U.S. Navy Reserve Yeoman 2nd Class Mathew West cradles the U.S. flag while participating in a remembrance ceremony at the U.S. Navy Reserve Center on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Jan. 24, 2024. Sailors with the U.S. Navy Reserve and Alaska Naval Militia led a Two Bell Memorial Ceremony and raised the flag in honor of the S-26 submarine and crew who were lost Jan. 24, 1942. The remembrance event underscored the unity and shared commitment across naval components to honor the sacrifices made by submariners throughout history. (Alaska National Guard

Flavio Cipriani, from North Riverside, Illinois, salutes spectators lining State Street during the 70th Annual Columbus Day Parade in Chicago, October 10, 2022. Cipriani served in the U.S. Army as a tank commander in South Korea from 1970 to 1972 and taught South Korean Soldiers about American weapons as an instructor with the Korean Augmentation to the United States Army (KATUSA) program. The parade celebrated Italian American culture, along with a range of diverse cultures throughout the parade.

Ceo Bauer (right), a World War II veteran who fought with the U.S. Armys 95th Infantry Division, and two other World War II 95th Division veterans lay a wreath at the gravesite of U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Harry Twaddle, former 95th Division Commander, in Section 2 of Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va., Oct. 20, 2022. This wreath-laying was part of the 95th Division Legacy Associations 72nd Reunion.

Private 2nd Class (ret.) Warren H. Schuster sits for refreshments during a visit to 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, on Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, Oct. 21, 2022. Accompanied by his three daughters, 91-year-old Schuster visited the 25th Inf. Div. and his prior unit more than seven decades after fighting and subsequently being injured in the Korean War.

Idaho Governor Brad Little, military members, veterans and residents of the Treasure Valley community gather at Idaho State Veterans Cemetery for a Memorial Day ceremony, May 30, 2022, Boise, Idaho. The ceremony included guest speakers, a 21-gun salute and firing of American Civil War cannons.

World War Two, Vietnam War, and Korean War veterans depart a ceremony and head to their gate at Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks, CT on June 5, 2022. The event, organized by Honor Flight Connecticut, took 44 veterans of either World War Two, Korea, or Vietnam to visit the war memorials in Washington D.C.

Joe Caballero and Michael H. Flowers, Marine Vietnam veterans, reflect on time spent in country at a Veterans Day ceremony Nov. 11, 2010. The two Marines joined hundreds of veterans and supporters at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C.

Byron Warren (right), shakes U.S. Army Pfc. (Ret.) James Hufnall's hand after presenting him with the Purple Heart during Hufnall's 100th birthday celebration in Kerrville, Texas, Sept. 15. Troopers from the 1st Cavalry Division, Horse Cavalry Detachment participated as the honor guard for this event.

Private 2nd Class (ret.) Warren H. Schuster sits for refreshments after visiting 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, on Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, Oct. 21, 2022. Accompanied by his three daughters, 91-year-old Schuster visited the 25th Inf. Div. and his prior unit more than seven decades after fighting and subsequently being injured in the Korean War.

Veterans of Operation "MARKET GARDEN" along with Soldiers assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) and 2nd Brigade Combat Team attend a memorial service during the 78th anniversary of the operation which included various orators, poetry, laying of wreaths, national anthems and a minute of silence on Sept. 11, 2022, at Veghel, Netherlands. They were able to reconnect with Dutch citizens and together they were able honor and remember the brave actions of the men that fought to liberate Holland from German occupation during World War II.

Veterans of World War II receive warm greetings from the Normandy community following the Airborne Memorial Ceremony in Normandy, France, June 6, 2022. Paratroopers come to Normandy to celebrate the triumph and victory of the 82nd Airborne Division in liberating Normandy from Nazi rule.

Retired Col. Charles Hartman speaks with Col. Ryan Keeney, the 49th Wing commander, at the Basic Expeditionary Airfield Resources base 50-year anniversary celebration, May 5, 2022, on Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico. In 1972, Hartman began his tenure as the first commander for the 4449th Mobility Support Squadron, which has since been re-designated as BEAR base.

040625-F-4116H-002. Base: Elmendorf Air Force Base State: Alaska (AK) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Vietnam War veterans with Alpha Company, First Battalion, First Marine Division, attend an award ceremony at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, June 24, 2022. Three of the veterans were recognized with the Bronze Star Award fifty-four years after their valiant actions in the war.

Former F-105 Thunderchief pilots and their family members visit Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, Nov. 3, 2022. They visited Davis-Monthan during an F-105 pilot reunion where they saw an A-10 Thunderbolt II Demonstration Team training flight, talked to current pilots, and received a history brief on the 355th Wing.

The commander of the 319th Quartermaster Battalion, Lt. Col. Blake Quick shakes hands with Spc. Tarik Seaberry's grandfather, Lorenzo Seaberry during the posthumous award ceremony.

The rural town of Firth held a large Veterans Day assembly in Eastern Idaho on Nov. 10th, inviting hundreds of attendees, including Idahos adjutant general, Maj. Gen. Michael Garshak. The assembly honored more than 100 local veterans and their families with help from more than 600 local and surrounding town volunteers, students, teachers and administrators. The assembly was held at Firth High School. The population of the small town is just shy of 600 people, according to the latest United States Census Bureau. Four Soldiers from the Idaho National Guards 148th Field Artillery Regiment posted the flags. Local veterans of all branches and current service members were recognized at the assembly and presented with plaques and roses. Garshak spoke at the assembly about the importance of patriotism.

More than 30 World War II veterans attended and were honored during the Carre de Choux (Cabbage Patch) Ceremony in Carentan, France, on June 3, 2022. This ceremony commemorates the 78th Anniversary of D-Day, the largest multi-national amphibious landing and operational military airdrop in history. The Cabbage Patch Commemoration Ceremony and Parade paid homage to the Paratroopers of the 101st Airborne Division who fought enemy forces occupying this area surrounding Carentan.

World War II Veterans and representatives of those who could not be in attendance receive a challenge coin at the Eternal Heroes Monument in Normandy, France, June 2, 2022. World War II Veterans and representatives of the 82nd Airborne Division and 101st Airborne Divisions (Air Assault) came to honor fallen Paratroopers who liberated Ravenoville in June of 1944.

A visitor places a lei on the casket during an interment ceremony held at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu, Sept. 21, 2022. The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) and attending family members paid their respects and honored the life of Petty Officer 1st Class Beoin Corzatt, who was assigned to the USS Oklahoma when the ship was attacked by Japanese aircraft during World War II. Corzatt was accounted for on Dec. 17, 2020, nearly 80 years after the attacks on Pearl Harbor.

Attendees of the Coast Guard White Alder ceremony talk to each other Dec. 7, 2002 in Baton Rouge, La. The ceremony remembers those lives lost on Coast Guard Cutter White Alder when the ship sank.

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