Discover and read the best of Twitter Threads about #honorthefallen

@NavalAcademy

Last #MemorialDay story. In 1994, Erik Kristensen was the 2nd class assigned to train me as a new plebe @NavalAcademy
He lead by example, never asked anyone to do something he wouldn’t do first. 1/4

The next year, Erik would become my platoon commander. He was the first upperclass midshipman in my company I really looked up to and tried to emulate. Strong, confident, but also level headed and understanding. 2/4

Erik went on to become a Navy SEAL. In 2005, he commanded Operation Red Wings, a search and rescue mission sent to recover a four man SEAL team engaged with Taliban fighters in the Hindu Kush mountains of Afghanistan. 3/4

The Joint Staff 🇺🇸

@thejointstaff

THREAD: #GenDunford on #MemorialDay: "We pause to honor the more than 1M Americans who have given the last full measure of devotion in service to our Nation...They were people who understood what we have in our country is worth fighting for." 1/3

"As we mark #DDay75, we're particularly mindful of the more than 4,000 Americans who died on 6 Jun 1944. Since then, we've lost over 100,000 other brave Americans. These statistics are compelling but don't begin to capture the enormity of the sacrifice." 2/3

"These statistics represent sons & daughters, brothers & sisters, good friends....children who grew up without their mothers & fathers...lives shattered, hopes & dreams never realized...Thank you for remembering how our men & women lived." 3/3
#HonortheFallen #MemorialDay

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@USMC

This #MemorialDayWeekend I also remember LtCol Mario Carazo “Sugar Bear” - At Camp Leatherneck in Afghanistan in 2010, Sugar Bear worked side by side with me planning air operations for 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing @USMC month after month, when he wasn’t flying. 1/4

Sugar Bear and I would have animated discussions about sports, or politics almost daily…but what I remember the most was he would stay up late at night so he could call his wife and kids on the phone during the daytime (their time). He was absolutely devoted to them. 2/4

One day Sugar Bear never returned from his AH-1 Cobra helicopter mission, shot down by Taliban forces. I know he believed in the fight and that his service was important to our nation. He was a true patriot. 3/4

Another story to celebrate #MemorialDay
Miroslav Zilberman – My carrier qualification class called him “Zilby”, although his callsign was changed later on. Zilby’s family immigrated from Kiev, Ukraine to Ohio when he was a child. He enlisted in the Navy after high school.

Zilby and I trained in the same small class to qualify to land on aircraft carriers. I remember his smile, and his laugh. He was very thankful for the opportunity to serve. He loved country and family. Was the kindest guy in my class, probably the nicest in the entire squadron.

In 2010 Zilby was returning to the carrier USS Eisenhower from a mission in Afghanistan. His E-2C Hawkeye aircraft failed due to mechanical problems. He ordered the other 3 crewmembers to bailout and flew the aircraft long enough so they could safely egress, which they did.

Thread - As we celebrate #MemorialDay, I’d like to honor some I knew who gave the ultimate sacrifice in defense of the freedoms this nation enjoys every day. They were my friends, and I thought I’d share them with you throughout the weekend.

Laura Mankey and I flew T-34s together in Corpus Christi, TX. She loved flying in the Navy. It was her dream and she was a warrior, but she was also the kind of person who would bake you cookies. She was totally and completely in love with her husband, another Navy officer.

Laura was a quiet professional who had an amazingly warm heart. The last time I saw her was when we graduated from primary flight training. In 2007, Laura’s MH-60 helo was lost at sea during routine operations off the coast of San Diego, CA. #HonortheFallen

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U.S. Dept of Defense

@DeptofDefense

1 of 4: On Wednesday, torrential rain and drastic wind gusts overcame America’s most hallowed grounds. Visitors ran for cover. News media piled into vehicles together. The streets flooded. Trees as old as the cemetery itself broke at the trunk and came crashing down.

2 of 4: But America's Regiment endured. They found low ground and held fast through the wind and the rain. Some had to be to ordered to stand down from planting flags, still determined to continue to #HonorTheFallen.

@ArlingtonNatl

3 of 4: One of the most extraordinary displays of discipline and dedication to duty ever to be witnessed at @ArlingtonNatl was taking place at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. With only a few watching from cover, a Tomb Sentinel approached the Unknowns with U.S. flags in hand.