501st CSW, Cambridgeshire locals honor fallen veterans

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Joel Mease
  • 501st Combat Support Wing Public Affairs
CAMBRIDGE, United Kingdom --  More than 200 U.S. servicemembers from the 501st Combat Support Wing, Joint Analysis Center, and members from the local community attended a Veteran's Day ceremony at Cambridge American Cemetery Nov. 11.

The event honored the 3,812 service members buried there and the 5,127 servicemembers whose names are inscribed on the cemetery wall who remain missing from World War II. Guest speakers Major Gen. Mark Zamzow, 3rd Air Force United Kingdom commander, and Royal Air Force Commander Les O'Dea, Assistant Chief of Staff Support, Headquarters Air Command, also paid homage to those who have given the ultimate sacrifice in support of freedom.

"The magnitude of sacrifice here is indeed numbing," Gen. Zamzow said. "We pray for the souls and relatives of those here and elsewhere around the world."

"It truly is our duty to take time to reflect on those who have given their lives," Air Commodore O'Dea said. "We are truly grateful for their sacrifice and we honor them."

Air Commodore O'Dea also spoke at the ceremony about the cemetery having an important tie into the history of the United States and Great Britain as allies.

"The Americans and British have had a long history of preserving freedom and democracy," he said. "I have seen this first hand the commitment our servicemen have to this with our allies in Afghanistan."

Carl Wheeling, a 30-year retired U.S. servicemember who now lives in the area, agreed with the sentiments Air Commodore O'Dea spoke of.

"I believe there really is a special connection (between the U.S. and Great Britain)," Mr. Wheeling said. "We really are a band of brothers, and we live very comparable lives - I know that for a fact."

The retired Navy senior chief petty officer also said it was very important for him to come out each year for these ceremonies.

"When I was on active duty I attended many of these ceremonies, sometimes you were told to and some you went on your own, but its important to remember veterans and what they have done," he said. "It's probably even more important know then ever before."

Veteran's Day is annually supported by servicemembers from the 501st CSW and Joint Analysis Center at RAF Molesworth.