Coral Harbour Base, (RBDF): - Earlier Monday morning, on this US Memorial Holiday, a ceremony was held in honour of ten US servicemen who died after their military plane had crashed in waters off the south coast of New Providence. The ceremony was held on the southwest coast of New Providence at a monument that was constructed in their honour.
In attendance at the ceremony were the Governor General of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, Dame Marguerite Pindling, the US Charge d'Affairs, US Embassy, the Minister of National Security, the Honourable Marvin Dames, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Honourable Darren Henfield, family members of the fallen, and other dignitaries.
Also honoured were fallen US servicemen and women, as well as those of other nationalities who had fallen while serving in the US armed forces. Among those recognized today were two Bahamians, Private 1st Class Sargeant Norman Darling and Sargeant Errol McKinney. This year, the wreath was laid by patrol craft P-129 Coxswained by Petty Officer Brian Anderson. The Guard Commander was Chief Petty Officer Dwight Gibson.
Every year the event is attended by the Commander Defence Force, executive and senior officers, Noncommissioned Officers and Marines of the Defence Force. The Defence Force also provides a guard that gives a general salute with the firing of weapons in honour of the fallen. Additionally, the Defence Force participates with the laying of wreaths at sea accompanied by a US Marine Guard.
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