This morning was not a day for politics and Gov. Scott didn't make any speeches. The service was left to the commanders to address the people paying honor to this Medal of Honor fallen soldier.
No one was talking in the crowd but as I took pictures before the service I wondered why there were so few people there. How many Medal of Honor recipients do we have that people did not feel they had to be there for this service?
I taped it and I'm working on the video which should be done in a couple of days but I wanted to make sure readers of this blog heard about this story.
Medal of Honor headstone placed on fallen Oviedo soldier's grave
Governor Rick Scott attends ceremony unveiling memorial to fallen Army Staff Sgt. Robert Miller
By Anika Myers Palm, Orlando Sentinel
3:54 p.m. EST, January 22, 2011
CASSELBERRY — Hundreds of people gathered at a cemetery Saturday to watch the unveiling of a memorial to a special Oviedo soldier.
A headstone placed at the grave of U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Robert Miller notes that Miller was awarded the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest military recognition. Miller, who died serving in Afghanistan, was the first member of Operation Enduring Freedom to be awarded the honor.
Miller, 24, was "tough, skilled, smart and proven in many battles," said Admiral Eric Olson, commander of U.S. Special Operations Command.
"He raised the abilities and the morale of everyone around him."
Miller died on Jan. 25, 2008, when he deliberately drew fire from more than 100 enemy fighters, allowing his fellow Green Berets and some Afghanistan National Army soldiers fighting with them to take cover, saving their lives. He killed more than 16 enemy combatants and wounded more than 30 in the battle, according to the U.S. Army Special Forces Command.
He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor in a ceremony at the White House on Oct. 6, 2010.
The crowd watched in silence as the headstone was unveiled at the All Faiths Memorial Cemetery..
"It was such a meaningful ceremony," said Edwina Ericsson of Winter Springs. "Getting a Medal of Honor is such a special, special thing."
read more here and see pictures from the Sentinel
Medal of Honor headstone placed on fallen Oviedo soldier's grave
Would love to see more pictures of the Ceremony and those in attendance. Looking forward to the video. What a HERO!
ReplyDeleteI'm working on it. There is a lot that has to be taken out to reduce the size of the file but I don't want to cut too much out.
ReplyDelete