Submarine veterans, active-duty military and family and friends of the Pacific Submarine Force came together to honor all Americans who have served in the military on Veterans Day at the USS Parche Submarine Park and Memorial on Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Nov. 11.
With an emphasis on submarine veterans, the ceremony’s guest speaker, Capt. John Russ, chief of staff of Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, spoke of honoring American veterans past and present, including Sailors aboard deployed submarines, and those aboard submarine tenders, maintaining, repairing, resupplying and supporting the fleet, to the families that are always sacrificing in their own way in service to the nation.
The ceremony included a posting of the 50 state flags by the Radford High School Naval Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps, postings of colors by the National Sojourners, a tolling of the bells for the 52 submarines and their crew that were lost in World War II and a series of wreath presentations by the Bowfin Base, Pearl Harbor U.S. Submarine Veterans and others. A special lei presentation was also held in honor of Hawaii’s state submarine, USS Growler (SSN 215). The ceremony also included a rifle volley by the Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam Ceremonial Guard.
Others groups in attendance included the Pacific Fleet Submarine Memorial Association; U.S. Submarine League, Aloha Chapter; and the Pearl Harbor Submarine Officers’ Spouses Association.
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Press release, Image: US Navy