Dec. 31, 2009
This is a tribute video in honor of US Military Fallen and Notable Veterans, as of the final hour, of the final day, of the last year, of the first decade, of the 21st century.

The notable veterans include:

FRED TRAVALENA
Oct 1942 – June 2009
US Army

BEA ARTHUR
May 1922 – April 2009
U.S. Marine Corps (WWII)
http://www.corpsstories.com/ArthurBea.htm
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0037735/bio
http://www.lgt2.com/bea/

KARL MALDEN
Mar. 1912 – Jul. 2009
US Army Air Corps – (WWII)

ROBERT S. McNAMARA
June 1916 – July 2009
US Army – WWII

CHUCK DALY
Jul. 1930 – May 2009
US Army – Korean War

WALTER L. CRONKITE Jr.
Nov. 1916 – Jul. 2009
United States Coast Guard Auxiliary

DONALD S. HEWITT
Dec. 1922 – Aug. 2009
US Merchant Marine – WWII

EDWARD “Ted” KENNEDY
Feb. 1932 – Aug. 2009
US Army – WWII

WAYNE E. MEYER
Apr. 1926 – Sep. 2009
US Navy – Rear Admiral (Retired)

LEWIS LEE MILLETT Sr.
Dec. 1920 – Nov. 2009
US Army Colonel (Retired)

ROBERT L. HOWARD
July 1939 – Dec. 2009
US Army – Colonel (Retired)

The fallen soldiers who died while supporting our nation’s wars are presented by month, and date their death according to DoD press releases.

Music:
Auld Lang Syne – US Army Ceremonial Band
Hymn of the Fallen – Katherine Jenkins
Armed Forces Medley – US Army Band
Mansion of the Lord – West Point Glee Club
Taps – US Army Ceremonial Band

Video Production
USFallen.org
Jerry Castillo – Producer

Week ending Dec. 26, 2009 the US Department of Defense released the names of 3 military personnel who died, while serving in the United States armed forces. This video is dedicated to Army Col. (Retired) Robert “Bob” Howard, Medal of Honor recipient.

Welcome viewers. These weekly episodes pay tribute to brave men and women who served our country with distinction. We focus on the warrior as a human whose lives have impacted a family, friends, and neighbors around our world. Your respectful comments are welcomed and serve as memorial tributes to our fallen soldiers. Political opinions and debates are best suited elsewhere.

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Fallen Description:

Army Col. Robert L. Howard, 70, of San Antonio. TX., 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces, Military Assistance Command, Vietnam-Studies and Observation Group,
Pfc. Serge Kropov, 21, of Hawley, Pa., Aircraft Group 16, 3rd Aircraft Wing, I Marine Expedit. Force, Air Station Miramar, CA.
Sgt. Albert D. Ware, 27, of Chicago, Ill., 782nd Combat Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.
Lance Cpl. Omar G. Roebuck, 23, of Moreno Valley, CA., 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Music:
First Noel – US Army Band “Pershing’s Own”
Taps – MSgt. Doug Compton

Photos/Resources

defenselink.mil
dvidshub.net
militarycity.com
mortuary.af.mil
rlhtribute.com

Video Production
http://www.USFallen.org
Jerry Castillo
Producer

Week ending Dec. 19, 2009 the US Department of Defense released the names of 3 military personnel who died, while serving in the United States armed forces. This episode includes a courtesy photo for Sgt. Frietas and is dedicated to US Army Colonel (Retired) LEWIS LEE MILLETT.

Welcome viewers. These weekly episodes pay tribute to brave men and women who served our country with distinction. This video is more than an announcement of data typically found on mainstream media outlets. We focus on the warrior as a human whose lives have impacted a family, friends, and neighbors around our world. Your respectful comments are welcomed and serve as memorial tributes to our fallen soldiers. Political opinions and debates are best suited elsewhere.

Fallen Description:

Tech. Sgt. Anthony C. Campbell Jr., 35, of Florence, Ky., USAF Reservist,
932nd Civil Engineer Squadron, Scott Air Force Base, IL.
Sgt. Ralph Anthony Webb Frietas, 23, of Detroit, MI., Support Squadron 172,
Wing Support Group 17, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expedit. Force, Okinawa, Japan.
US Army Colonel (Retired) LEWIS LEE MILLETT of Idyllwild CA. Medal of Honor Recipient
Pfc. Jaiciae L. Pauley, 29, of Austell, Ga., 1st Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, GA.
Pvt. Jhanner A. Tello, 29, of Los Angeles, CA., 3rd Aviation Support Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, TX.

Music:
Silent Night – US Army Field Band
Taps
Photos/Resources
news.cincinnati.com
defenselink.mil
militarycity.com
pe.com
theoldcoot.blogspot.com
usarmyband.com

USFallen.org Video Production
Jerry Castillo
Producer

December 12, 2009, Dallas Ft. Worth National Cemetery ceremonies for the annual Wreaths Across America were held at 11:00 hours. It was a cool overcast day with scattered rain with approximately 100 people gathered to honor veterans.
Members of the Irving High School Marine Jr. ROTC were on hand to serve as honor guards. Participants included the Civil Air Patrol (CAP), Crusader Composite Squadron and their cadets conducted the ceremonies.

Wreaths were presented to honor each branch of the military including the Merchant Marines, POW and MIA soldiers.
Presenters:

Army – Capt. (veteran) Clint Bond
USMC – MSgt. Doug Compton
USN – CAP CADET CA1C Samantha Hutto
USAF – CAP CADET CSSGT Ryan Pigeon
USCG – Lt. Billy Buck
USMM – ESGN. Tom Ludlum
POW & MIA – CAP CADET Capt. Robert Severance

After the ceremonies the crowd gathered around various distribution points and began to place a wreath with a single red bow at tombstones of our fallen.

More information:

The Wreaths Across America, story began over 18 years ago when the
Worcester Wreath Company from Harrington, Maine initiated a tradition of
donating and placing wreaths on the headstones of our Nation’s fallen heroes at
Arlington National Cemetery. Recognition of the service and sacrifice of our
veterans, and their families, is especially poignant during the traditional holiday
season.

Worcester Wreath Company continues to be a major supporter of the project,
donating over 25,000 total wreaths in 2008. Over 100,000 wreaths will be
sponsored by individuals, businesses, and groups from communities Nation-wide.
Wreaths will be placed in all 50 states from Maine to Alaska and Hawaii, at
several locations is Iraq, and at 24 national cemeteries on foreign soil.
For people who wish to support the project, wreath sponsorships are available
online. A complete list of participating locations is available on the website at
www.WreathsAcrossAmerica.org.

Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with 58,000 members nationwide. CAP, in its Air Force auxiliary role, performs 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and was credited by the AFRCC with saving 72 lives in fiscal year 2009. Its volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and counter-drug missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. The members play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to more than 23,000 young people currently participating in CAP cadet programs. CAP has been performing missions for America for 68 years.”

Video Production:

Music
US Army Field Band
Greensleeves
Silent Night

Video
USFallen.org
Jerry Castillo – Producer

Nov. 11, 2009, Dallas Fort Worth National Cemetery held their 10th annual Veterans Day ceremonies. The festivities began on Nov. 7, 2009 with the flag raising ceremony. This required approximately 40 volunteers to spend a cloudy Saturday morning raising 163 American flags and then lowering them to half staff, as ordered by President Obama, in honor of the Ft. Hood massacre victims.

This changed the landscape from lush fall colors in north Texas, into flag lined streets of red, white and blue.

The day of the event approximately 400-500 guests and dignitaries came together in the main gathering area. Musical prelude was provided by Mt. View Community College band. At 15:00 hours the ceremonies began with CDR Julius Graw, USN, retired, as the MC. Dr. Weldon Estes, USA, Chaplain led the invocation. Afterward, the color guard presented the color and Linda Renfro sang the National Anthem. On queue a team from USAF Reserve 457th Fighter Squadron, 301st Fighter Wing of four jets flew over and performed a missing man formation. To honor the victims of the Ft. Hood massacre, 100 white doves provided by Birds of Paradise of Ft. Worth, were released and circled around the cemetery before flying off into the distance.

After the distinguished guests were introduced Reflections Home School Choir, led by Craig Armstrong, entertained the attendees with several patriotic medleys to honor all branches of the military. Speeches by the Mayor Tom Leppert, City of Dallas, and Eddie Bernice Johnson Congresswoman, 30th Dist., TX led up to the keynote speaker, Captain T.D. Smyers, Commanding Officer, Naval Air Station, Joint Reserve Base, Ft. Worth, TX.

There was a presentation of Metals of Remembrance to honor the children of the fallen. 14th Marines, 2nd Battalion conducted a 21-volley cannon salute followed by a duet of Taps performed by Kirk Vinson and Fred Shelton of the DFW Honor Guard. The ceremonies concluded with the Mt. View Community College Band led by Randy Garman, performing postlude music as the crowds visited grave sites, while others exited the cemetery.

On behalf of the Texas National Cemetery Foundation:
Special Thank You to:
D/FW Cemetery Flag Ceremony Volunteers
J.P. Elder Middle School Cadet Corp
Cedar Hill Air Force Junior ROTC

Music:
Mt. View Community College Band – Randy Garman, Director
Reflections Home School Choir – Craig Armstrong, Director

Video:
Jerry Castillo
Film/Edit/Producer
TAGS: DFW Cemetery Army Navy Marines Air Force Coast Guard Military Veterans 21-gun salute patriotic music Ft Hood memorial