EOD memorial ceremony held at Eglin to remember, pay tribute

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. – Members of the explosive ordnance disposal community came together on Eglin Air Force Base to honor and remember their fallen explosive ordnance disposal brethren.

Dressed in the bright whites, deep blues and dense blacks of their service uniforms, Airmen, Marines, Sailors and Soldiers gathered on May 7 at the annual EOD memorial ceremony at the Kauffman EOD Training Complex.

In its 53rd year, the ceremony took place with military and community leadership, invited guests and the EOD community.

For the first time in many years, no new names were added to the Memorial Wall.

A new Remembrance Garden debuted at the ceremony as an expansion to the hallowed grounds. The new area has several benches surrounding a bomb-suited EOD warrior statue clutching an American flag.

The garden leads to a tree-covered pathway that directs visitors to the Memorial Wall.

The schoolhouse’s commander, Navy Capt. Steven Beall, welcomed guests and explained why they return to the memorial on the first Saturday of May each year.  This Saturday is designated National EOD Day.

“We pause today to honor the 343 men and women enshrined on the wall in front of us,” said Beall.

“As we reflect on their selfless service, we pay tribute to them.”

Rear Adm. Joseph Diguardo, Navy Expeditionary Combat Command commander and EOD officer, spoke about tyranny and oppression in current and past conflicts and specifically about what means to remember.

“Take this weekend to genuinely and often reach out to each other with your stories about those on the wall and each other,” Diguardo said.

“That’s how we remember, and we are blessed to do so.”

Each year, a wreath is placed in front of each branch of service’s list of names before they are read aloud.  Each list is completed with the phrase “We remember,” and the names are simultaneously saluted by an enlisted and officer EOD member.

The ceremony concluded with an honor guard rifle volley and the playing of Taps.

Afterward, families and EOD technicians, both past and present, descended upon the Wall for pictures, to touch the engraved brass name, or just to remember a fallen hero.

By Samuel King Jr.