Story and photos by Senior Airman John Wright
86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs November 19, 2021
Ramstein leadership attended German National Day of Mourning ceremonies at memorial sites in Ramstein-Miesenbach and Kaiserslautern, Nov. 14.
U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Josh Olson, 86th Airlift Wing commander, right, Staff Sgt. Joshua Irving, center, and Airman 1st Class Matthew Vaca, Ramstein Air Base Honor Guards, present a wreath on behalf of Ramstein Air Base during the German National Day of Mourning ceremony in Ramstein-Miesenbach, Nov. 14. The National Day of Mourning is celebrated on the 33rd Sunday of each year, commemorating members of the armed forces of all nations and civilians who have died in armed conflict.
Brig. Gen. Josh Olson, 86th Airlift Wing commander, Col. Elizabeth Hanson, 521st Air Mobility Operations Wing vice commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Bryant Roy, 86th AW acting command chief, represented Team Ramstein among other leading representatives from U.S. Army, German military, German first responders and local German government.
In Germany, the National Day of Mourning is always celebrated on the 33rd Sunday of the year. The Sunday is observed in commemoration of members of the armed forces of all nations and civilians who died in armed conflicts.
Speeches paying tribute to service member and civilian victims were given during the ceremonies, and leading representatives were invited to lay wreaths in their honor.
In recent years, the National Day of Mourning, first observed in 1952, also began recognizing any victims of violent oppression and acts of terrorism.
U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Josh Olson, 86th Airlift Wing commander, left, arranges the ribbon after presenting a wreath with Chief Master Sgt. Bryant Roy, 86th AW acting command chief, right, to commemorate fallen service members and civilians during the German National Day of Mourning ceremony in Ramstein-Miesenbach, Nov. 14. Olson and Roy represented Ramstein Air Base among other leading representatives from U.S. Army, German military, German first responders and local German government.
U.S. and German military members, German first responders and local German government officials listen to remarks delivered by Herr. Ralf Hechler, Ramstein-Miesenbach City and Union Community mayor, during the German National Day of morning ceremony in Ramstein-Miesenbach, Nov. 14. Speeches paying tribute to service member and civilian victims of armed conflict were given during the ceremony, and leading representatives laid wreaths in their honor.
U.S. Air Force Col. Elizabeth Hanson, 521st Air Mobility Operations Wing vice commander, left, U.S. Army Lt. Col. Jeremy McHugh, acting U.S. Army Garrison Rheinland-Pfalz commander, center, and Garrison Command Sgt. Maj. Stephen LaRocque, right, pose for a photo during the German National Day of Mourning ceremony in Kaiserslautern, Nov. 14. Kaiserslautern Military Community leadership attended ceremonies, along with leading representatives from German military and local German government, to commemorate service member and civilian victims of armed conflict at memorial sites in both Ramstein-Miesenbach and Kaiserslautern, Germany. (Courtesy photo)
U.S. Air Force Col. Elizabeth Hanson, 521st Air Mobility Operations Wing vice commander, left, and U.S. Army Garrison Rheinland-Pfalz Command Sgt. Maj. Stephen LaRocque, right, honor fallen service members and civilians during the German National Day of Mourning ceremony in Kaiserslautern, Nov. 14. Hanson and LaRocque represented the Kaiserslautern Military Community among other leading representatives from German military and local German government. (Courtesy photo)
A wreath honoring service member and civilian victims sits outside St. Nikolaus Church in Ramstein-Miesenbach during the German National Day of Mourning, Nov. 14. The National Day of Mourning was first observed in 1952, and commemorates members of the armed forces of all nations and civilians who died in armed conflicts.
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