Honoring our fallen Airmen

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. Kevin Lane
  • 312th Airlift Squadron commander
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  President Calvin Coolidge, 30th President of the United States, said, "No person was ever honored for what he received. Honor has been the reward for what he gave."

This past Memorial Day weekend, I had the privilege of representing the Air Force at an event to honor one of our fallen Airmen, Senior Airman Mark Forester. Travis supported this event in Manteca, California, with the Travis Elite Honor Guard, a C-17 Globemaster III flyover and a performance by the U. S. Air Force Band of the Golden West, Mobility.

Forester gave his life in support of our freedom in Afghanistan Sept. 29, 2010, while trying to save a wounded comrade during an intense battle with the Taliban. Forester, an Air Force combat controller assigned to the 21st Special Tactics Squadron, Pope Air Force Base, N.C., deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom to one of the most dangerous areas in Afghanistan. He was awarded the Bronze Star with Valor, the Purple Heart and the Silver Star for his "heroic actions and unselfish dedication to duty."

I had the honor of escorting Forester's family at the dedication of the 11th Panel of the Welcome Home Heroes Traveling Tribute. I presented them with their son's Bronze Star with Valor medal. The 11th Panel of the "Not Forgotten" Memorial was dedicated to Forester for his heroism and making the ultimate sacrifice for our Nation.

Forester embodied the Air Force core values of integrity, service and excellence. He was an American Airman who lived and served according to the principles of our Airman's Creed: "I am an American Airman, guardian of freedom and justice, my nation's sword and shield, its sentry and avenger. I defend my country with my life."

His actions serve as an inspiration to all Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Guardsmen. We must never forget those who have fallen, to whom our debt of gratitude can never be repaid, and those loved ones they leave behind.

During his funeral oration honoring the thousands who died in the Peloponnesian War, Pericles said, "What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others."