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171st ARW members help at Army memorial dedication

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Ann Young
  • 171st Public Affairs
July 11, 2010 --       The 171st was asked to help support the 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team headquartered in Washington, PA with the dedication of the Fallen Warrior Memorial Wall in the lobby of the Goodridge Armory July 11.
     The memorial is dedicated to the 82 Soldiers and Marines killed in action during the 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team's deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from June 2005 through June 2006.
     Working long hours in a very humid environment, three individuals from the 171st Communications Squadron, Staff Sgts. Albert Sphon and Brandon Cousins and Senior Airman Adam Falcsik, enabled numerous people to view and appreciate the event by hooking up a live feed from a video camera operated by Tech. Sgt. Shawn Monk, 171st    Public Affairs. Because the memorial is located in a very small lobby of the headquarters building, fewer than 50 people would fit in the primary viewing area for the unveiling. The live video feed and accompanying audio allowed the adjacent multipurpose room to be utilized for the additional crowd.
     The somber event was attended by families of the Fallen Warriors, Col. Michael R. Evans, current 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team's Commander, Maj. Gen. Randall Marchi, 28th Infantry Division Commanding General and Brig. Gen. John Gronski, previous 2nd IBCT Commander, along with a handful of 171st ARW members who showed their support during the dedication. 
     "We have worked jointly with the 2nd IBCT on several occasions like the past snowstorm and the G-20 Summit, and we became very integrated with the unit," said Lt. Col. Chuck Perrott, deputy commander, 171st Mission Support Group. "We not only came here to help our fellow Army brothers at the event, but also pay our respects to the fallen troops."