With everyone’s focus on COVID-19, a lot of Memorial Day remembrances and celebrations have been postponed or canceled. Perhaps this might be a good thing, though, as it reminds us what the true meaning of Memorial Day is all about. Memorial Day isn’t about partying and living it up or taking vacations! Memorial Day is about our fallen members of the United States Military! If you look up the meaning of Memorial Day in Google, or Bing, or whichever search engine you use, you’ll find the typical answer: “A day on which those who died in active military service are remembered, traditionally observed on May 30, but now officially observed on the last Monday in May.”
Our Military is the driving force behind this country. All too often it’s taken for granted, as are the folks who serve in it! I want to take today to honor just a few people from our Military who have passed away this year while serving. They are who this special day is all about.
Henry Mayfield, JR. 
Miguel A Villalon
During January, the Military lost six members of our Armed Forces. Spc. Henry Mayfield Jr. was killed on Manda Bay Airfield in Kenya while supporting Operation Octave Shield. He was only 23 years old, and a prior resident of a suburb of Chicago, IL. He was assigned to the 164th Theater Airfield Ops Grp out of Fort Rucker, AL. Pfc. Miguel A Villalon was killed after a vehicle he was in struck an IED. He was serving our Military in Afghanistan as part of the 307th Brigade Engineer Battalion out of Fort Bragg, NC. He was 21 and came from Joliet, IL.
Staff Sgt. Ian P. McLaughlin, Army Spc. Antonio Moore, Air Force Lt. Col. Paul K. Voss and Air Force Capt. Ryan S. Phaneuf all gave their lives for what they believed in during January 2020.
Antonio Rodriguez 
Javier Gutierrez
February 2020 saw four more Military deaths, including Army Spc. Branden Tyme Kimball and Army Pfc. Walter Lewark. Army Sgt. 1st Class Javier J. Gutierrez (28) and Sgt. 1st Class Antonio R. Rodriguez (28) were both killed in an insider attack in Afghanistan. Both of these soldiers were posthumously promoted to Sgt. 1st Class as well as being awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Hearts. Both Sergeants were out of the 7th Special Forces Group from Eglin Air Force Base, FL.
Eloiza Zavala 
John D. Randolph Hilty
During March, the Military lost six additional souls. One is a Marine Corps Cpl. Eloiza Zavala, from Sacramento, CA. She was just 20 years old. She was serving with Combat Logistics Battalion 13 in the United Arab Emirates out of Camp Pendleton, CA. While her death is still being investigated, it appears that it was an accident that stole her life. The Army lost Sgt. 1st Class John David Randolph Hilty, 44, due to a non-combat incident, which is still being investigated as well. He was a resident from Bowie, MD, and was with the 1st Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division from Fort Hood, TX.
Army Spc. Juan Mendez Covarrubias, Air Force Staff Sgt. Marshal D. Roberts, Marine Corps Capt. Moises A. Navas & Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. Diego D. Pongo all gave their lives during March for the Military as well.
April appears to have been “good”; as per the Military Times site, there aren’t any deaths! I have obtained the information in this blog post from their website, https://thefallen.militarytimes.com/.
Christopher W. Curry 
Trevarius R. Bowman
May so far has seen the passing of two additional members of our Military, Army 1st Lt. Trevarius Ravon Bowman and Army Sgt. Christopher Wesley Curry. Army 1st Lt. Trevarius Ravon Bowman was 25, and from Spartanburg, SC. He was killed in a non-combat incident in Afghanistan, and the event is still being investigated. He was assigned to Company B, 198th Signal Battalion, 261st Signal Brigade out of Newberry, SC. Army Sgt. Christopher Wesley Curry hailed from Terre Haute, IN, and was just 23. He passed away in a non-combat incident while in Iraq. The event is still under investigation.
All of these deaths bring us to today, where we honor them and thank them for being who they are. I didn’t know any of these men or women personally, but I’m so thankful to them for giving their lives for my family’s freedom. It takes a brave person to stand up for their beliefs and lay everything on the line. I have friends and family either currently serving in the Military or who have served in the past. They are an example of people I want my children to look up to as they grow up!
Again, a huge thank you to all of those who have given their lives for this country. We wouldn’t be where we are without your sacrifice and love. So, happy Memorial Day 2020. Let’s take a moment to bow our heads and remember everything that has been given to let us be where we are today, enjoying the safety of our homes and home-towns.
All Gave Some, Some Gave All.
Do you have anyone special you’re remembering and honoring today? Let me know!
Love ya,
Kelly Ann
Looking for other posts that you can reflect on? Try my 20 quotes here; or my thoughts on Mother’s Day this year; or look back on Earth Day 2020.
Relevant hashtags if you choose to share: #military #appreciation #memorialday2020 #memorialdayweekend #honor #sacrifice #army #navy #airforce #marine #coastguard #reserves #usa #unitedstatesofamerica #america
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