Veterans honored during ceremony at WWII cemetery

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Brian Stives
  • 501st Combat Support Wing Public Affairs
CAMBRIDGE, United Kingdom --  Under a heavy sky, a smattering of tears began to fall as "Taps" played in the presence of the more than 300 gathered in a somber service honoring American veterans at Cambridge American Cemetery Nov. 12. Attendees looked on as leaves danced lightly in the air before landing in the reflecting pools of the Great Mall, at the base of white crosses, or at the feet of one of the four giant statues of a Sailor, Soldier, Airman and a Coast Guardsman guarding the Tablets of the Missing.

Standing in front of the Portland stone tablets and their 5,126 names of the missing, Maj. (Chap.) Peter Fischer, 501st Combat Support Wing chaplain, set the tone for the ceremony when he quoted Winston Churchill in his invocation, "Never in the field of human conflict has so much been owed by so many, to so few."

Following a flyover from a KC-135 Stratotanker assigned to the 100th Air Refueling Wing, RAF Mildenhall, the ceremony's guest speaker, Lt. Gen. Craig Franklin, 3rd Air Force commander, reminded everyone of the ultimate sacrifice made by some veterans.

"Some 3,812 killed in World War II are laid to rest in this cemetery, and they fought for liberty in several different ways," Franklin said. "Some of them were nurses tending the wounded; others were Sailors who brought vital supplies to England; and still other Airmen fighting in the skies over England and Europe."

Calling on the memories of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Franklin spoke of how July 4, 1942, was a significant day, as six Royal Air Force crews and six U.S. Army Air Force crews flew 12 British bombers on the first raid against Occupied Europe. The continued efforts of the Allies in World War II were merely one example of the shared commitment to freedom, he said.

"Today, we say thank you to those who have served in the never-ending vigils of freedom," Franklin said. "American, British and Allies around the world, those who served in the past and those that are standing vigilant today in places like the Balkans, East Africa and Afghanistan."

Honoring veterans is not a unique American custom, as Nov. 11 is commemorated around the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth as Remembrance Day, to remember all who have served. British and American representatives attend services held in churches and at memorials throughout the United Kingdom. In order to stand side-by-side with our British hosts, the Veteran's Day ceremony at the Cambridge American Cemetery was moved to Nov. 12.

"That U.K. and U.S. personnel have had the opportunity to show our respect for each nation's military during this weekend's Remembrance Services is perhaps very fitting given the long-standing and enduring nature of the relationship between our two countries," said Royal Air Force Air Commodore Steve Shell, Assistant Chief of Staff Operations, Headquarters Air Command.

Following the guest speakers, British and American civic and military leaders laid nearly 50 wreaths at the base of the Tablets of the Missing in remembrance of all who served.

As if on cue, a light rain began to fall as the 423rd Air Base Group Honor Guard finished firing three volleys of seven guns, followed by the playing of "Taps." At the last note of "Taps," retired Royal Air Force Piper Warrant Officer Gary Kernaghan began playing the lament "Flowers of the Forest," and the mournful tune echoed from the tablets out over the grave markers and across the beautiful English Countryside.