Memorial Day message Published May 25, 2007 By Lt. Gen. Gary L. North, 9th Air Force and U.S. Central Command Air Forces commander SOUTHWEST ASIA -- On May 28, 2007 we will honor those service men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our great nation. Memorial Day, which officially began as Decoration Day in 1868, is a day that we reflect and remember our comrades in arms who have gone before us. In his remarks to the nation at Arlington National Cemetary, President George W. Bush said "All who are buried here understood their duty. They saw a dark shadow on the horizon, and went to meet it. They understood that tyranny must be met with resolve, and that liberty is always the achievement of courage...The fallen give silent witness to the price of our liberty -- and our nation honors them, this day and every day. This year we honor our fellow Airmen who have fallen during Operations ENDURING and IRAQI FREEDOM. SrA Adam Servais, SrA Carl J. Ware, Jr., MSgt Brad Clemmons; A1C Leebenard Chavis, Maj Troy Gilbert, Capt Kermit Evans, SrA Elizabeth Loncki, A1C Daniel Miller, TSgt Timothy Weiner. There are two that stick out specifically in my mind, A1C Leebenard Chavis, assigned to the 824th Security Forces Squadron at Moody Air Force Base, who was a turret gunner attached to the 372nd Military Police Battalion in Iraq. He was killed by a sniper's bullet as he was trying to keep innocent civilians away from a suspected improvised explosive device. Then there's Maj Troy Gilbert from Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. He gave his life to protect our Army brethren from an insurgent attack. He strafed the vehicles the insurgents were using to attack ground forces. He struck the first vehicle and came around to strike the second vehicle. He became so focused on striking that vehicle that he went too low and could not recover. He was killed instantly. Each one of these Airmen who sacrificed their lives for others set the example for us to follow. Let us remember them this Memorial Day and as you are spending time with your families this Memorial Day holiday, take time to reflect on those who have sacrificed it all to make our country free and to rid our world of terrorists.