By Maj. Gen. Ryan F. Gonsalves
Commanding general, 4th Infantry Division and Fort Carson
As we gather on this Memorial Day, we are again reminded of the true cost of our liberties and freedom. The silent testimony of those who gave their lives willingly for our country evokes our upmost admiration and sincerest gratitude.
On this occasion, we remember and honor our fallen Soldiers’ service, bravery and patriotism. Nothing can repay the debt we owe to these brave Americans, but with our actions and thoughts we can strive to keep faith with them and with their noble vision that led them to sacrifice their lives for others.
May 25, 2017, we honored Fort Carson’s fallen service members and their Families during our annual Mountain Post Warrior Memorial Ceremony. We forever memorialized the names of four Fort Carson Soldiers who gave their lives fighting for our country over the past year. The sacrifices of our fallen Soldiers and their Families serve to remind us of our enduring responsibility to pay solemn tribute to those men and women who gave their lives to guarantee our liberties. They were loved by their friends and Family and, in return, loved them and their countrymen enough to give their life for them.
In addition to the fallen, we also honor our Gold Star Families. We extend our sincerest sympathies and prayers of comfort to every Family who has lost a loved one.
We remain forever grateful to them for allowing their loved ones to serve our nation. Their resilience and strength inspires us all, and our hearts are filled with the deepest respect for them.
Let us not forget our 4th Infantry Division and Fort Carson Soldiers deployed across the globe. I urge each of you to keep our Soldiers serving in harm’s way always in your thoughts and prayers. As we think of those so far away from home, let us not forget their Families remaining here among us. They, too, bear the burden of service and do so with great strength, love and pride.
As we take this day to remember the fallen and to stand in solidarity with their loved ones, I encourage everyone to reflect upon the legacies our fallen heroes have left behind. We will never forget what they did for us, and will always honor them and their Families with the gratitude of a grateful nation.
Command Sgt. Maj. Michael A. Crosby and I extend our deepest appreciation and respect for all our veterans and their families and encourage you to join us by participating in the National Moment of Remembrance, a call to voluntarily and informally pause, at 3 p.m. local time on Monday, Memorial Day, to reflect on and remember those Americans who died in service to our nation.
Steadfast and Loyal. Iron Horse.