A table set in honor shooting victims

Kyla Burke
Posted 7/28/15

The four Marines and one Sailor shot at a recruiting station in Chattanooga, Tennessee on July 16 were honored Friday at a memorial ceremony at Warwick City Hall.

Warwick Veterans Services …

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A table set in honor shooting victims

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The four Marines and one Sailor shot at a recruiting station in Chattanooga, Tennessee on July 16 were honored Friday at a memorial ceremony at Warwick City Hall.

Warwick Veterans Services Association members Councilwoman Camille Vella-Wilkinson, WVSO president Timothy Howe and Director of Outreach Services Dan Evangelista organized the memorial service.

The ceremony began with the posting of colors by the Veterans Honor Guard, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by Gold and Blue star mothers and an invocation by Father Robert Marciano of St. Kevin Church. General Reginald Centracchio, USAR/RET, gave the keynote address.

“There is bad news and good news. The bad news is these United States are under attack, and specifically terrorists are targeting our military. The good news is they won’t win. That is most assuredly certain,” said Centracchio.

“Five young men were selected. They were proud. They were the best of the best going into the community, to convince other men and women to put on the uniform. And they were slain, senselessly,” said Councilwoman Vella-Wilkinson in an emotional address.

“These five men in Chattanooga were talking to other men and women about the future, about how to be leaders, and how to have a life that has impact on your country, and they were targeted,” said Vella-Wilkinson.

Vella-Wilkinson reminded the crowd of veterans not to live in fear.

“We do not want our young men and women in uniform to live in fear anywhere, especially here on our soil,” she said.

The memorial also included a symbolic “table setting for fallen comrades” ceremony. Five empty chairs circled a table with place settings representing the fallen soldiers: Gunnery Sgt. Thomas Sullivan, Staff Sgt. David Wyatt, Sgt. Carson Holmquist, Lance Cpl. Squire Wells, and Petty Officer 2nd Class Randall Smith. The traditional table setting is to honor service members who have fallen in the line of duty, with each table element representing different symbols of service, sacrifice and the price of freedom.

Howe said the WVSO held the memorial after discussing the shooting amongst their members in a meeting earlier last week.

“We were waiting for the call to come down to put the flags at half mast. We felt this truly was an act of terrorism committed on U.S. soil and wanted to do something to show our support,” said Howe.

“We stand with the U.S Marines and the Navy. We stand with our brothers and sisters and their families. It’s very important they know the community won’t let this get brushed under the carpet,” said Howe.

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