Forrestal Fire MemorialTHIS WEEKEND THE USS FORRESTAL ASSOCIATION COMMENCES THE TENTH YEAR OF HONORING THEIR TWO HUNDRED SEVENTY-SIX FALLEN SHIPMATES ANNUALLY ON MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA AND THE NATIONS CAPITAL. FLOWERS WERE PLACED AT THE USS FORRESTAL GRAVE SITE AT ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY AND ALONGSIDE THE LONE SAILOR STATUE AT THE U. S. NAVY MEMORIAL IN WASHINGTON, DC. FORTY-SEVEN YEARS AGO LIEUTENANT COMMANDER J. A. HUMES OF VF-21 DIED WHILE FLYING HIS FJ-3 FURY JET FIGHTER FROM THE DECK OF FORRESTAL. HE WAS OUR FIRST FALLEN SHIPMATE. OUR LAST SHIPMATE TO DIE, OVER TEN YEARS AGO, WAS FIREMAN CRAIG LEE JARREL OF "R" DIVISION. THE OTHER TWO HUNDRED SEVENTY-FOUR MEN ARE EQUALLY NOTED. ALL THOSE MANY MEN SERVE AN IMPORTANT FUNCTION IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY, IN THE LIVES OF THE MEN WITH WHICH THEY SERVED, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY THEY LOVED AND ARE LOVED BY THEIR FAMILIES, AND FRIENDS. HONORING ALL OUR 276 SHIPMATES THAT PAID THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE WHILE SERVING ABOARD USS FORRESTAL IS AN IMPORTANT FUNCTION. SIMPLY IT SAYS TO OUR FALLEN SHIPMATES, THEIR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS, WE THEIR SHIPMATES "WE WILL NEVER FORGET!" Ken Killmeyer Provided via Joe Turpen   |