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

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

November 11, 2009
At the 11th minute, of the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month Dallas kicked-off its annual Veterans Day parade down Main Street.
Thousands of participants and onlookers crowded downtown Dallas on a sunny mild weathered day. It was perfect weather as people began to find a position on the parade route. Members of the 1st Calvery of Fort Hood, TX were honored with leading the procession beginning at Reunion Arena, making their way north on Houston Street, east on Main Street, south on Ervay Street, west on Young Street, south on Akard Street, and ending in front of Dallas City Hall.
This year’s theme was “Honoring Our Military Medical Corps,” and the Dallas Independent School District pulled out all the stops. All of the Dallas high schools were represented with marching bands, cheerleaders, drill teams and members of the ROTC programs from all branches of the military. Friendly onlookers watched more than 100 units march the streets, displaying the colors proudly and providing the musical entertainment. All branches of the military were represented with groups of the past, present and future warriors. Ages of the parade participants ranged from 6 to 96.
Prior to the start of the ceremonies and parade, 100 military recruits took the oath of enlistment. At the reviewing stand on City Hall Plaza, veterans in full dress uniform – chests full of medals – stood to salute each passing American flag in nearly two hour long parade. The parade units paused for a flyover of vintage World War II planes.
Democratic State Representative Rafael Anchia says the sorrow and shadow of the Fort Hood tragedy was palpable along the parade route, but he says he takes heart in the promise of the new recruits who took their oath to defend and serve this Veterans Day. “I have nothing but a heart full of pride for this state, this country, and these young men and women.”

Video Description:
Thank You
1st Calvary Fort Hood, TX
Veterans from the past, present and future
DISD HS Marching Bands and ROTC
Video Production
USFallen.org
Jerry Castillo
Producer

Week ending Oct. 3, 2009 the US Department of Defense released the names of 11 military personnel who died, while serving in the United States armed forces.

Welcome viewers. These weekly episodes pay tribute to brave men and women who served our country with honor. This video and your respectful comments are memorial tributes to our fallen soldiers.

A grateful nation honors your service. Your battle is over; rest in peace. Your courage, for our country, will forever be etched in our minds and hearts.

Please visit my USFallen.org FaceBook fan page with photos of soldiers used on video and post memorial tributes.

Fallen Description:

Sgt. Ryan C. Adams, 26 of Rhinelander, WI.,
Lance Cpl. Jordan L. Chrobot, 24, of Frederick, MD.,
Staff Sgt. Alex French IV, 31, of Milledgeville, GA.,
Spc. Kevin J. Graham, 27, of Benton, KY.,
Spc. Russell S. Hercules Jr., 22 of Murfreesboro, TN.,
Staff Sgt. Jack M. Martin III, 26, of Bethany, OK.,
Sgt. Titus R. Reynolds, 23, of Columbus, OH.,
Sgt. 1st Class Christopher D. Shaw, 37, of Markham, IL.,
Sgt. Edward B. Smith, 30, of Homestead, FL.,
Spc. Ross E. Vogel, III, 27, of Red Lion, PA.,
Spc. Joseph V. White, 21, of Bellevue, WA.,

Music:

“Requiem for a Soldier”
By: Katherine Jenkins

“TAPS”

Photos/Resources
www.afghanistan.pigstye.net
www.defenselink.mil
www.militarycity.com
www.professionalsoldiers.com
http://your4state.com
http://www.waow.com

USFallen.org Video Production
Jerry Castillo
Producer
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Week ending Sep. 26, 2009 the US Department of Defense released the names of 9 military personnel who died, while serving in the United States armed forces.

Welcome viewers. These weekly episodes pay tribute to brave men and women who served our country with honor. This video and your respectful comments are memorial tributes to our fallen soldiers.

A grateful nation honors your service. Your battle is over; rest in peace. Your courage, for our country, will forever be etched in our minds and hearts.

Please visit my USFallen.org FaceBook fan page with photos of soldiers used on video and post memorial tributes.

Fallen Description:

Spc. Michael S. Cote Jr., 20, of Denham Springs, LA.,
Senior Airman Matthew R. Courtois, 22, of Lucas, TX.,
Sgt. David A. Davis, 28, of Dalhart, TX.,
Tech Sgt. James R Hornbarger, 33, of Marysville, CA.,
Spc. Corey J. Kowall, 20, of Murfreesboro, TN.,
Lance Cpl. John J. Malone, 24, of Yonkers, N.Y.,
Pfc. William L. Meredith, 26, of Virginia Beach, VA.,
Pfc. Jeremiah J. Monroe, 31, of Niskayuna, N.Y.,
Spc. Damon G. Winkleman, 23, of Lakeville, OH.,

Update: US military deaths in Afghanistan region at 767
As of Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2009, at least 767 members of the U.S. military had died in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Uzbekistan as a result of the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan in late 2001, according to the Defense Department. The department last updated its figures Wednesday at 10 a.m. EDT.
Of those, the military reports 588 were killed by hostile action.
Outside the Afghan region, the Defense Department reports 70 more members of the U.S. military died in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Of those, three were the result of hostile action. The military lists these other locations as Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, Cuba; Djibouti; Eritrea; Ethiopia; Jordan; Kenya; Kyrgyzstan; Philippines; Seychelles; Sudan; Tajikistan; Turkey; and Yemen.
There were also four CIA officer deaths and one military civilian death.

Music:

“Now We Are Free”
By: Hanz Zimmer

“TAPS”
Photos/Resources
www.airforcetimes.com
www.afghanistan.pigstye.net
www.defenselink.mil
www.kpua.net
www.lohud.com
www.militarycity.com

US Fallen Video Production
Jerry Castillo
Producer
Please enable Javascript and Flash to view this Blip.tv video.