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

Memorial Day 2020 - May 25

SL United States Navy
Third Fleet

Naval Air Station Patuxent River

The United States Navy Third Fleet Naval Air Station Patuxent River invites you, your family and your friends to the MEMORIAL DAY ceremony, taking place at the Blue Angels Memorial site on

MONDAY, MAY 25, 2020 at 1100 hours (11 am SLT)

In keeping with the Blue Angels Memorial tradition, we will remember our real life fallen heroes by recalling their names as taps are sounded.

Uniform:
Full Dress Whites for SL United States Navy personnel.
Full Dress Uniform for other branches (domestic and foreign)

Dress code for civilians and recruits/candidates:
Formal attire


CAPT. Asra Kron
PAXCO, TFCOM

That Monday in May

Observing today's remembrance, a Memorial Day ceremony took place at Naval Air Station Miramar, attended by SL US Navy and SL USMC service members from Third and Seventh Fleets, as well as USCG in SL members. Here is a record of the event. As usual, click on the images to enlarge.

The guests started arriving early at Miramar.

CDR. An Rainbow is escorted by CAPT. Vickster Kühn for the Memorial flight.

Miramar's main entrance was the stage of the ceremony.

CAPT. Sidney Pobieski delivers her remarks.

 
CAPT. Sidney Pobieski's remarks.
SFCOM, CV-63CO

Good morning. I only found out I was going to speak about an hour ago, so I am going to have to be uncharacteristically brief. I should wrap this up in 45 mins or so.
I was speaking with a woman at Church yesterday who is rather on in years, and she was lamenting that we no longer call today "Decoration Day". Which is used to be called until, I think, 1970, at which time it was renamed and moved to a Monday to give the Post Office a long weekend.

A lot of people think Decoration Day refers in some way to military medals or badges. It does not. In fact the name came about when groups of women in the South began to "decorate" the graves of fallen Confederate soldiers in the years after the Civil War. In 1868, a group of women in northeastern Georgia were doing just that when they noticed the intended cemetery containing the graves of Union soldiers nearby. It was in sad disrepair and many of the women were appalled by this. So they took to "decorating" the graves of all fallen soldiers, (...). It caught on with a National Union Veterans Group and became a National Holiday from there, with the intent of caring for the physical graves and the communal memory of all soldiers who gave their lives in all wars.

That is what we need to be remembering today. That real people, children often, died a real death so that we can behave as disgracefully as we do today - politically, socially and personally. We've made a game of it here, but its not a game to many families. So as you go about your SL military careers, try to do so in a way that reflects credit upon the institution and the people who have been part of it.

I will conclude with this... "And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works." - Revelations 20:13. I do not concern myself that any of our war dead need be concerned when their time to be judged arrives.

Senior Commanding Officers of the USS Kitty Hawk and NAS Miramar.

CAPT. Vickster Kühn making her speech, after CAPT. Pobieski.

CAPT. Vickster Kühn's remarks.
TFCOM, NAFENCO, NFDTCO

Thank you Captain Kron, thank you Captain Pobieski also.The fact is I know a lot of veterans and the fact is memorial day rooted in history though it is well, unfortunately, the roles of the honored dead continue to grow. All the lives spent on those battlefields - and lets face it not always well spent but honorably - and the shattered families who eventually heal and move on.

It is not a game what we do if we do it right, its a living memorial to the men and women who served as well as those who died. It is rather Memorial Day every day for us if you push it that far because this place, this navy, is a living memorial and monument to them, and its appropriate to remember that it's done with reverence and respect. Thank you all for your attention. 

View of the ceremony ground with USCG vessels off the coast.

The USCG cutter "Scimitar" and a USCG fast boat joined the ceremony.

CAPT. Asra Kron delivers the closing statements before noon.

 CAPT. Asra Kron's remarks.

TFCOM, NASMCO, NFDTXO

Thank you CAPT. Pobieski and CAPT. Kühn for your words. At this point we would have a chaplain come forward and grace us with his words as well, but unfortunately he is not available so I will close the remarks as we approach noon and the restoring of the flag to full staff.
 
Distinguished commanding officers, fellow service men and women, ladies and gentlemen, thank you for joining us at Naval Air Station Miramar for this year’s Memorial Day ceremony. We are into our third year of existence and proudly look forward to many more, remaining one of the finest mirrors of the United States Armed Forces in this virtual world. As such we carry on our shoulders the responsibility of portraying the real life institutions we represent honorably and this particularly comes to mind in days like this one.

Memorial Day is the time to celebrate the lives that were given for a greater cause in the ultimate sacrifice one can make for one’s country. We should remember those fallen heros always and not just today, but on this day we choose to collectively pause and think about their service and their precious gift to us all. Yesterday I placed a little flag on the grave of a family member who served in the United States Navy, like his father before him. It is a beautiful cemetery, very large and well kept, long and wide stretches of well tended grass with old luscious oaks. Very near is the military memorial site with all branches represented and an enormous American flag waving majestically up on high. It made me think of what I wanted to say to you today.

We honor all those who served, and neither of my Navy family members lost their lives in the line of duty, but today in particular we honor those who did so, and in honoring them we must also remember what their sacrifice was for. We live in controversial times, difficult times. We are faced every day with a myriad of news that tell us of a troubled world and a troubled country, where so many are pitched against each other and fail to find common ground. In such times we must hold ourselves in an even higher standard and stand fast for what we believe in and represent.

The lives selflessly given by those whose memory we honor today were given for what our country stands for, above all freedom. Freedom that is ensured by a system that at its core has both democracy and the rule of law, for you can not have a free society without representation and justice. In these troubled times we must stand fast in the defense of these values and what makes them possible, and more than ever represent our real life mirrors with dignity and pride, but also with humility and responsibility. This is what gives the sacrifices we honor today meaning and does them justice.

In remembrance of our fallen service men and women we had our flags at half staff for the first twelve hours of the day. We shall now restore the flag to full staff so it waves high proudly once more. Remember this when you look at it. Remember what it means. Lest we forget.

Miramar's flag was raised to full staff at noon as the National Anthem played.

Gathering for champagne at the end of the ceremony. A fine day it was.

Thank you to all the US Navy, US Marine Corps and US Coast Guard in Second Life service members who attended this ceremony.

CAPT. Asra Kron
NASMCO / TFCOM

Memorial Day Ceremony - NAS Miramar

A ceremony dedicated to our veterans and fallen heroes will take place at NAS Miramar on Memorial Day, Monday, May 28, at 11:00 SLT. Dress code is full dress whites (gloves, sabres, medals and ribbons - NO name tags). If you plan to attend be early - Du Sud region capacity is 20 people.

There will be a fly by with aircraft from NAS Miramar at the start of the ceremony, after which they will land on site so the aviators can join the ceremony for the National Anthem and senior officers' remarks on Memorial Day, its meaning and observance, and the return of the flag to full staff at noon.

FLAG AND COLORS STATUS:

Third Fleet follows the real life flag status. For Memorial Day, orders are as follows for all stations, facilities and bases:

By order of the President of the United States, in accordance with Section 6 of the U.S. Flag Code, all flags at all State facilities are to be flown at half-staff on Monday, May 28, 2018 until noon that same day in recognition of Memorial Day.For locations that display illuminated flags that remain up at all times, these flags need to be lowered to half-staff for the morning of May 28, 2018 and returned to full staff at noon that same day. For flag locations at which the flags are not illuminated or for other reasons are raised and lowered each day, the flag, when flown at half-staff, should be first hoisted to the peak for an instant and then lowered to the half-staff position, and returned to full staff at noon.

SLUR:
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Du%20Sud%20Isle/31/164/26

CAPT. Asra Kron
NASMCO / TFCOM