Honoring the fallen

Staff Sgt. Ashley Dean, 15th Medical Group Bioenvironmental Engineering Flight, plants a U.S. flag at the gravestone of Cpl. Vincent J. Kechner, who was killed at Hickam Field during the Dec. 7th, 1941 attacks on Oahu military installations Dec. 6, 2013, at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. Dean and three other 15th MDG representatives, including Col. Virginia Garner, 15th MDG commander, visited the cemetery to pay respects to Kechner, one of their medical field comrades. “It’s an honor and a privilege to come out and pay our respects to people who have lost their life trying to save others,” Garner said. “I feel it’s important to understand and honor our medical heroes.” Kechner’s was scheduled to depart the island the day after the attacks. The 72nd Remembrance Ceremony commemorating the attack on Hickam Field is Dec. 7 and begins at 7:55 a.m. at the Hickam Field Flag Pole. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Alex Martinez)