Memorial Day at PAX, May 25, 2020

The Blue Angels Memorial site at NAS PAX River since August 8, 2019, inaugurated August 8, 2018 at NAF El Centro.

On May 25, 2020, at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Memorial Day was observed at the Blue Angels Memorial Site. Many fellow service members were present, friends and family, real life veterans and guests who answered our call this day. To all of them, who I shall try to name at the end of this record, our heartfelt thank you. Thank you for keeping the flame of remembrance alive.

Click an any of the images to enlarge.

May 24: the EAR delegation takes a tour of the memorial site at PAX.

The Blue Angels Memorial site on the dawn of May 25, 2020.

CPO Black keeps the honor guard. (1)

Guests arriving. EAR personnel getting off their transport in the background.

The command officers present address the guests.

Command Officer Speeches

Especialistas de Aeronáutica (EAR) Brasileira

[2020/05/25 11:16]  Felipe Ferraris (fejeco.ferraris):
Captain Asra, General Temp, ladies and gentlemen, good morning.
I’d like to thank you all for taking time out of your day to stand with us in recognition and honor of all those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in service to the American nation. On behalf of Brazilian Air Force, I would like to take just a moment and recognize all those among us who have served or are currently serving the American Armed Forces as well as any here who have lost a loved one in service.
 
We are humbled by your sacrifices, as we know they are great, and we commend the demonstrations of courage and strength that you have no doubt shown throughout the most difficult of times. So Memorial Day is a chance to reconnect to the genesis of our nation’s in-numerous freedoms.
I thank you all for joining in today’s tribute. I hope you keep our military men and women - and the sacrifices they made - close to your heart today and throughout the rest of the year.
Sincere respects from the Brazilian Air Force. Thank you all.

Marechal do Ar Felipe Ferraris, EAR (SL)

Royal Aviation Expeditionary Corps

[2020/05/25 11:22]  Temp Harrison (mrharrisonofreaper):
On this day in 1868 the United States showed its respect to those who were lost in the civil war. Men who fought for what they believed.

[2020/05/25 11:23]  Sachin De Saltu (soulofherrera09):
I have poem (*)

[2020/05/25 11:25]  Temp Harrison (mrharrisonofreaper):
As a real life Airmen of the United States Air Force I have lost brothers and sisters who now wait for us in Valhalla and say to them: You will be not be forgotten. You will not be left behind. And you will forever be with us. Coasties, Airmen, Sailors, Marines, Soldiers... all of you have given what was asked and more. To the real life veterans in Royal Aviation and Second Life the war never stops.

Rest in Peace Airman Johnathan Saladan of the USAF Security Forces, Kandahar Airfield. Rest in Peace Poppy, Rest in Peace Colonel Sadler. We shall fight on and see you one day in Paradise.
Thank you.

General Temp Harrison (Retired real life USAF), RAEC

CAPT. Asra Kron, NAS PAX River commanding officer.

SL United States Navy Third Fleet

[2020/05/25 11:31]  Asra Kron (x4ten):
Fellow officers and enlisted, distinguished guests,
I would like to recognize you all without exception for being here. Too many to name. Look around you... This is why we serve. I will just make a special recognition to the Brazilian Air Force and the Especialistas de Aeronáutica present. Thank you one and all.
 
This is Memorial Day.
Not a day should go by that we don't remember our fallen, but each year we dedicate a day to honor them. And for us this is the day. In SL United States Navy Third Fleet we do it by paying our respects to the fallen Blue Angels, who lost their real lives when serving with the squadron. This is so because we carry the honor, the privilege and the responsibility of being the home fleet of the SL Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, Blue Angels since 2016 and, God willing, for many years to come.
The Blue Angels Memorial site where we are gathered today was built on Naval Air Facility El Centro, a six region set up built in the image of the real life one in California. NAF El Centro was in SL as it is in real life, the Winter home of the Blue Angels. It was short lived but never forgotten.
When Naval Air Station Patuxent River was built, in July of 2019, the memorial found a place to live again, and since its rebirth on August 8 of that year, on the first anniversary of its inauguration at El Centro, it is again a public space dedicated to the memory of these fallen heroes.

Today is Memorial Day.
A day to remember those who must never be forgotten. The men and women who laid down their lives in service to us all. No matter the cause, no matter the reason, it is not a soldier, sailor or airman's place to question why, but his or her duty to do or die.
Today we honor the dead heroes.
Today we cherish the ones who survived.
Today we show our gratitude to those who serve.
In this sacred site's tradition we do all these things by saying out loud the name of the twenty one Blue Angels who lost their lives while in service with the demonstration squadron in real life.
At each name taps will sound, and when the twenty one are named a twenty second bugle call will sound for all those who served in Second Life and are now resting in peaceful waters and spacious skies.
So, please, join me in their remembrance.

CAPT. Asra Kron, SL United States Navy, Third Fleet

CAPT. Asra Kron recites the names of the 21 fallen Blue Angels.

[2020/05/25 11:43]  Asra Kron (x4ten):
Join me and the United States Naval Academy choir in prayer.

ETERNAL FATHER, STRONG TO SAVE
Performed by the United States Naval Academy choir

Eternal Father, strong to save,
Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
Who bidd'st the mighty ocean deep
Its own appointed limits keep;
Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea!

Eternal Father, grant, we pray,
To all Marines, both night and day,
The courage, honor, strength, and skill
Their land to serve, thy law fulfill;
Be thou the shield forevermore
From every peril to the Corps.

Amen

CPO Gray sounds Taps as each name is called from the stones. (1)

 
[2020/05/25 11:45]  Asra Kron (x4ten): shouts:
MILITARY PERSONNEL: ATTENNN- HUT!

Lieutenant Ross Robinson. United States Navy.
Blue Angel number 4.
Taps, September 26, 1946.

Lieutenant Bud Wood. United States Navy.
Blue Angel number 4.
Taps, July 7, 1952.

Commander Robert Glasgow. United States Navy.
Blue Angel number 1.
Taps, October 14, 1958.

Lieutenant Anton Campanella. United States Navy.
Blue Angel number 3.
Taps, June 14, 1960.

Lieutenant George Neale. United States Navy.
Blue Angel number 4.
Taps, March 15, 1964.

Lieutenant Commander Richard Oliver. United States Navy.
Blue Angel number 5.
Taps, September 2, 1966.

Lieutenant Frank Gallagher. United States Navy.
Blue Angel number 6.
Taps, February 1, 1967.

Captain Ronald Thompson. United States Marine Corps.
Blue Angel number 2.
Taps, February 18, 1967.

Lieutenant Bill Worley. United States Navy.
Blue Angel number 6.
Taps, January 14, 1968.

Lieutenant Larry Watters. United States Navy.
Blue Angel number 7.
Taps, January 8, 1972.

Lieutenant Commander Skip Umstead. United States Navy.
Blue Angel number 1.
Taps, July 26, 1973.

Captain Mike Murphy. United States Marine Corps.
Blue Angel number 4.
Taps, July 26, 1973.

Petty Officer 1st Class Ron Thomas. United States Navy.
Blue Angels Crew Chief.
Taps, July 26, 1973.

Lieutenant Nile Kraft. United States Navy.
Blue Angel number 7.
Taps, February 22, 1977.

Lieutenant Michael Curtin. United States Navy.
Blue Angel number 6.
Taps, November 7, 1978.

Lieutenant Commander Stuart Powrie. United States Navy.
Blue Angel number 5.
Taps, February 22, 1982.

Lieutenant Commander Robert M. Gershon. United States Navy.
Blue Angel number 6.
Taps, July 13, 1985.

Lieutenant Commander Kieron O'Connor. United States Navy.
Blue Angel number 3.
Taps, October 28, 1999.

Lieutenant Kevin Colling. United States Navy.
Blue Angels selected candidate in training.
Taps, October 28, 1999.

Lieutenant Commander Kevin J. Davis. United States Navy.
Blue Angel number 6.
Taps, April 21, 2007.

Captain Jeff Kuss. United States Marine Corps.
Blue Angel number 6.
Taps, June 2, 2016.
 
[2020/05/25 12:03]  Asra Kron (x4ten):
Salutes in silence a final call for all the ones we lost who served in Second Life.

[2020/05/25 12:05]  Asra Kron (x4ten):
Pray with me. Lest we forget our fallen heroes.

AMAZING GRACE
Performed by Cecilia

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now am found
Was blind but now I see

Was Grace that taught my heart to fear
And Grace, my fears relieved
How precious did that Grace appear
The hour I first believed

Through many dangers, toils and snares
We have already come
T'was Grace that brought us safe thus far
And Grace will lead us home

[2020/05/25 12:08]  Asra Kron (x4ten):
Stands in silence for the reprise of the first verse as it is sung.

[2020/05/25 12:09]  CAVY (captaincavy):
GODS SPEED LT POPPY "HI DIVER" ... AMEN
Spoken as Amazing Grace ended.

[2020/05/25 12:09]  Asra Kron (x4ten):
AMEN

The guests prepare to leave but still one thing was to come. So all stood still.

 
[2020/05/25 12:09]  Asra Kron (x4ten):
Thank you all for making this day so special. God bless our fallen heroes and friends and God bless us all. This ceremony is complete. Please enjoy your holiday.

(*) You probably noticed Sachin's line during General Harrison's speech. At several points during the ceremony, this young Second Life Coast Guard recruit was announcing he "had a poem". Due to the strictly timed ceremony layout I could not include this impromptu participation, but as I said good bye to all and they were getting ready to leave, recruit Sachin De Saltu spoke up once more. I smiled and called him to the podium and everyone stood still. And listened.

[2020/05/25 12:10]  Sachin De Saltu (soulofherrera09):
I do have a Memorial Day Poem...

[2020/05/25 12:10]  Asra Kron (x4ten):
Go ahead and say your poem. *smiles bright* Let us hear Sachin's poem before we leave - this was not scheduled. Please read Sachin.

SLCG recruit Sachin De Saltu finally gets to recite his poem.

[2020/05/25 12:12]  Sachin De Saltu (soulofherrera09):
Is it enough to think to-day
Of all our brave, then put away
The thought until a year has sped?
Is this full honor for our dead?
Is it enough to sing a song
And deck a grave; and all year long
Forget the brave who died that we
Might keep our great land proud and free?
Full service needs a greater toll
That we who live give heart and soul
To keep the land they died to save,
And be ourselves, in turn, the brave!
Thank you

[2020/05/25 12:14]  Asra Kron (x4ten):
That was beautiful recruit Sachin. Thank you for sharing young man, well done.

[2020/05/25 12:14]  Asra Kron (x4ten):
Please enjoy the rest of your holiday.
Thank you all from my heart for attending this ceremony,
And please,
Stay safe.

CAPT. Asra "Cougar" Kron
TFCOM / NASPAX CO / SL NFDS / SLNFC

National ensign at full staff after the ceremony. The watch never ends.

(1) Shown in this year's images are CPO's Black and Gray, Third Fleet well known work horses (a.k.a. bots) who perform several important duties (always as NPC's) from Honor Guard to Blue Angels ground crew. "Attention to detail will see you through".

Recognition of attendance plaques. (2)

(2) In recognition of their presence at the ceremony held at the Blue Angels Memorial Site, N.A.S. Patuxent River, May 25, 2020, Memorial Day, these small replicas of the monument stones with the Navy and Marines verses of "Eternal Father, Strong to Save" were sent to all who attended.

Thank your for remembering our fallen heroes and friends.

SL military groups represented this year:
SL United States Navy Third Fleet (SL USN / SLNFC) ; Especialistas de Aeronáutica (EAR) Brasileira, Royal Aviation Expeditionary Corps (RAEC / RA); Second Life Coast Guard (SLCG); US 7th Fleet in Second Life (USNSL); Second Life Marinha Brasileira (SLMB); House of Red (HoR); Armée de l'Air Patrouille de France (SL);  N.A.S. Naval Air Station (Firespire) WW2.

Individuals attending the ceremony this day:
mrharrisonofreaper; Cellar Auster; DENISEmyLove Resident; Argon Karu; Honorina Resident; Wolgast Resident; bibygirl Resident; lacomplicada Resident; Blackjack Kowalski; Aviator747 Resident; Vickster Kuhn; Blueskind Resident; Ubiyen Resident; soulofherrera09; Quarlo Quandry; Marzi Zane; lrdHucker Resident; VictoriaS89 Resident; Fejeco Ferraris; lionborbo Resident; Sonia Bulmer; gwenblonde Resident; Victoriacblanc Resident; curiousminette Resident; CAPTAINCAVY Resident; MeesterP Resident; FaythDuke Resident; Serenity Gauntley; HelenQueer Resident; Jennytryit Resident; Quinavery Resident; CISKEDERAT Auster; Floryania Resident; Pretoed Resident; Beatriz Viper; EternalLegendary Resident; BruNoo Marioman; Miily21 Resident; Amanditta06 Resident; murielen Yuhara; Lanai Jarrico; Orion Baral; Thomas1 Bellic; NicolasBernardo Resident; GeneralWillians Resident; Anita Babii; GiseleOsol Resident; XxBishopKingxX Resident; AdiliRoge Resident.
(To those we missed here, my apologies and gratitude.)

SL United States Navy Third Fleet - 2020