Fallen Special Forces soldiers honored during Fort Bragg ceremony
FORT BRAGG, N.C. (WTVD) -- Sheila Harriman-Reid began to well up toward the end of the Ballad of the Green Berets.
"...Put silver wings on my son's chest, Make him one of America's best...."
The lyrics describe what may very well be in her 16-year-old son Stan's future.
"He wants to follow his father's footsteps," Harriman-Reid said, choking up. "Whatever he decides to do, we're going to support him, and it's not going to be easy, but we will."
We first met the Harriman's in March of 2002, almost immediately after Chief Warrant Officer Stanley Harriman became the first U.S. casualty of Operation Anaconda.
Stan was only three years old at the time, and his sister Darby was six. On Wednesday, the two teens joined their mother and a host of Special Forces family members to do in public what they do in private each day--honor their fallen soldier.
"Stan lost his life that day, but he died for every single one of us," said Harriman-Reid. "He honored and loved this county. He loved the ground that he stood on and that we stand on today. We still have our freedoms because of men like him and we love him and we miss him."
Harriman is among the 1,134 fallen soldiers' whose names are engraved along the Special Operations Memorial Plaza wall. Twenty-eight more Special Forces soldiers who have passed since May 2013 are being added to the list Wednesday. Half of them were killed in combat.
During its 46th annual Memorial Day ceremony on Fort Bragg, the U.S. Army Special Forces Command (Airborne) paid tribute those soldiers, who fought from the Korean War to the present conflict.
"None of them did it for the recognition, awards or medals," said Brigadier General Darsie D. Rogers, commander of USASFC (Airborne). "They did it for their country, and for the men on their left and right."
For the Gold Star families in attendance, this time of year allows another reunion between a group forever bonded.
"The nation and regiment can never repay our debt to you," said Rogers. "The sacrifices and memories of your loved ones will never be forgotten."
For a list of all the fallen soldiers, visit the USASFC page.
