Today, the 1st Special Forces Group at Joint Base Lewis-McChord conducted a wreath-laying ceremony in honor of Memorial Day.
The 2,5000-person airborne unit honored its 176 members who have lost their lives since forming in the 1950's, including three who died in Afghanistan this past year.
The unit - which conducted Thursday's ceremony with the First in Asia Association group - moved to Washington in 1984. It's under the command of the 1st Special Forces Group at Fort Bragg, NC.
First in Asia built the unit's memorial wall at JBLM some 10 years ago.
"We are a family," said Col. Max Carpenter.
(Watch the video to hear some of what Carpenter told Patch)
With hundreds of soldiers standing in formation and looking on, the families of the three Special Forces soldiers who lost their lives this year - Staff Sgt. Jeremie Border, Staff Sgt. Michael Simpson and Sgt. 1st Class James Grissom - approached the memorial wall.
Although the names of their loved one have yet to be engraved, it appeared few, if anyone, forgot he kind of soldiers they were.
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