Sailors aboard guided-missile cruiser USS Gettysburg (CG 64) participated in the 147th annual Memorial Day parade held at the Gettysburg National Cemetery May 25.
The ship’s ceremonial color guard traveled from their homeport in Florida to their namesake city in Pennsylvania to carry the colors for the parade. The event, hosted by the Gettysburg Joint Veterans Memorial Day Commission, is one of the nation’s oldest continual observations of its kind.
Logistics Specialist 2nd Class Christiana Ortiz, was honored to return to Gettysburg after participating in the parade last year.
“I am so proud to return to Pennsylvania and to be able to celebrate this weekend here,” said Ortiz.
The parade is not just a way to remember veterans, but also a way to honor those that continue to sacrifice and serve in today’s armed forces.
“I cannot even put into words what this parade means to us,” said Quartermaster 2nd Class Brandon Shannon. “We are absolutely honored by the Joint Commission’s invitation and the opportunity to represent our ship today.”
Gettysburg, home ported in Mayport, Florida, celebrated the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg last year.
[mappress] Press Release, May 29, 2014; Image: Wikimedia