Honoring fallen heroes through memories and adventure
The origins of Memorial Day date back to the post-civil war era. Officially, the holiday had its genesis as Decoration Day, designated in 1868 for the purpose of honoring the fallen soldiers of what is still today America’s bloodiest conflict. The Union General John A. Logan enacted the day as a tradition where in late spring mourners would place flowers and flags on the graves of the soldiers lost in the conflict as a sign of respect and remembrance. Eventually becoming a federally recognized holiday in 1971, it is now a three day weekend best known for BBQs and traffic jams, celebrated as spring gives way to summer. It has been said that one is never truly gone until being forgotten by the living. With Memorial Day fast approaching please join us in keeping the memories of our fallen servicemen and women alive.
CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER TIM R. BRENEMAN
While serving in 3rd Ranger Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment I lost several good friends, men I consider brothers. One such Ranger was Tim Breneman, who after leaving The Ranger Regiment went on to pilot Apache helicopters and ultimately lost his life in a tragic accident on September 19, 2006.
SERGEANT JOEL D. CLARKSON
Sergeant Clarkson served as a rifle team leader in 2nd Ranger Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment. He was killed in action during a fierce direct-action fire fight on March 16, 2010, in Farah Provence, Afghanistan.
2ND LIEUTENANT JUSTIN SISSON AND SPECIALIST ROBERT PIERCE
Lieutenant Sisson and Specialist Pierce served as members of the 1/506th Battalion, 101st Airborne Division. Both died of wounds sustained as a result of a suicide car bombing in Tsamkani, Afghanistan on June 3, 2013.
Whether you are summiting a 14er or at a BBQ with friends, take a photograph of a memorial bracelet with a respectful background of your choosing and post it to social media. As General George S. Patton so eloquently put it, “it is foolish and wrong to mourn the [people] who died. Rather, we should thank god that such [people] lived.”
Tag us in your Memorial Day photos on Instagram at @adventurepromagazine, or share your photos with us online. We’ll be highlighting our fallen throughout the rest of the week.
