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Memorial Service, Award Ceremonies Honor Victims of Pensacola Terrorist Attack

04 December 2020

From Naval Education and Training Command Public Affairs

Naval Aviation Schools Command held a memorial service, as well as wreath-laying and Purple Heart Medal ceremonies at Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola Dec. 4.
PENSACOLA, Florida – Naval Aviation Schools Command (NASC) held a memorial service, as well as wreath-laying and Purple Heart Medal ceremonies, at Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola Dec. 4.
 
The memorial service and wreath laying marked the one-year anniversary of the Dec. 6 NAS Pensacola terrorist attack that left three U.S. Navy Sailors killed and eight other personnel injured.
The family of Petty Officer 3rd Class Cameron Walters is presented a Purple Heart Medal posthumously by Rear Adm. Pete Garvin, commander, Naval Education and Training Command.
SLIDESHOW | images | 201204-N-TF029-126 PENSACOLA, Fla. (Dec. 4, 2020) The family of Petty Officer 3rd Class Cameron Walters is presented a Purple Heart Medal posthumously by Rear Adm. Pete Garvin, commander, Naval Education and Training Command, center, and Capt. Edgardo Moreno, commanding officer, Naval Aviation Schools Command, at a ceremony Dec. 4, 2020, at the National Naval Aviation Museum on board Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola. Walters was one of three Sailors killed on Dec. 6, 2019, by a terrorist on NAS Pensacola. (U.S. Navy Photo by Jason Bortz)
Purple Heart presentation to the family of Ensign Joshua Watson.
SLIDESHOW | images | 201204-N-IT398-131 PENSACOLA, Fla. (Dec. 4, 2020) The family of Ensign Joshua Watson is presented a Purple Heart Medal posthumously by Rear Adm. Pete Garvin, commander, Naval Education and Training Command, center, and Capt. Edgardo Moreno, commanding officer, Naval Aviation Schools Command, at the National Naval Aviation Museum onboard Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola. Watson was one of three Sailors killed on Dec. 6, 2019, by a terrorist on NAS Pensacola. (U.S. Navy Photo by Joshua Cox)
Purple Heart presentation to the family of Petty Officer 3rd Class Mohammed Haitham.
SLIDESHOW | images | 201204-N-TF029-141 PENSACOLA, Fla. (Dec. 4, 2020) The family of Petty Officer 3rd Class Mohammed Haitham is presented a Purple Heart Medal posthumously by Rear Adm. Pete Garvin, commander, Naval Education and Training Command, center, and Capt. Edgardo Moreno, commanding officer, Naval Aviation Schools Command, left, at a ceremony Dec. 4, 2020, at the National Naval Aviation Museum on board Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola. Haitham was one of three Sailors killed on Dec. 6, 2019, by a terrorist on NAS Pensacola. (U.S. Navy photo by Jason Bortz)
Wreath-laying ceremony at NAS Pensacola, Fla.
SLIDESHOW | images | 201204-N-IT398-069 PENSACOLA, Fla (Dec. 4, 2020) Rear Adm. Pete Garvin, commander, Naval Education and Training Command, center, and Capt. Edgardo Moreno, commanding officer, Naval Aviation Schools Command (NASC), left, render honors after laying a wreath during the NASC’s memorial service and wreath-laying ceremony at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Friday, Dec. 4, 2020. The ceremony was held to honor the victims of the terrorist attack on Dec. 6, 2019. (U.S. Navy Photo by Joshua Cox)
Wreath-laying ceremony at NAS Pensacola, Fla.
SLIDESHOW | images | 201204-N-TF029-002 PENSACOLA, Fla (Dec. 4, 2020) Rear Adm. Pete Garvin, commander, Naval Education and Training Command, center, speaks at the Naval Aviation Schools Command’s memorial service and wreath-laying ceremony at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Dec. 4, 2020. The ceremony was held to honor the victims of the terrorist attack on Dec. 6, 2019. (U.S. Navy photo by Jason Bortz)
Wreath-laying ceremony at NAS Pensacola, Fla.
SLIDESHOW | images | 201204-N-IT398-042 PENSACOLA, Fla. (Dec. 4, 2020) Chief Select Boatswain’s Mate Travis Burke rings a bell during a memorial service and wreath-laying ceremony at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Dec. 4, 2020, to honor the victims of the Dec. 6, 2019 terrorist attack. (U.S. Navy Photo by Joshua Cox)
191207-N-NO101-002.jpg
SLIDESHOW | images | 191207-N-NO101-002 191207-N-NO101-002 WASHINGTON (Dec. 7, 2019) File photo of Ensign Joshua Kaleb Watson, 23, from Coffee, Alabama. Ens. Watson was killed during an active shooter incident at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Dec. 6. (U.S. Navy Photo)
191207-N-NO101-001.jpg
SLIDESHOW | images | 191207-N-NO101-001 191207-N-NO101-001 WASHINGTON (Dec. 7, 2019) File photo of Airman Mohammad Sameh Haitham, 19, from St. Petersburg, Florida. Airman Haitham was killed during an active shooter incident at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Dec. 6. (U.S. Navy Photo)
191209-N-N0101-003.JPG
SLIDESHOW | images | 191209-N-NO101-003 191209-N-N0101-003 WASHINGTON (Dec. 9, 2019) File photo of Airman Aprentice Cameron Scott Walters, 21, from Richmond Hill, Georgia. Walters was killed during an active shooter incident at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Dec. 6, 2019. (U.S. Navy photo/Released)
 
“It was almost one year ago today during a despicable and cowardly act of terrorism that Ensign Joshua Watson, Petty Officer 3rd Class Mohammed Haitham and Petty Officer 3rd Class Cameron Walters paid the ultimate sacrifice in service to their nation,” said Rear Adm. Pete Garvin, commander, Naval Education and Training Command (NETC), the ceremony’s guest speaker. “As we lay this wreath for our three fallen shipmates, we honor their bravery and their sacrifice.”
 
The ceremony also recognized those who were wounded during the attack: Ensign Kristy Lehmer, Ensign Brianna Thomas, Airman Ryan Blackwell, Airman George Johnson, Jessica Pickett, Capt. Charles Hogue, Sheriff's Deputy Matthew Tinch and Sheriff's Deputy Jonathan Glass.
 
“Today, we continue to mourn those who lost their lives,” said Garvin. “We also pay tribute to the eight Sailors, Marines, government civilians, Naval Air Station Pensacola security forces and Escambia County Sherriff’s Office deputies who were injured. They all exemplify honor, courage and commitment.”
 
Garvin commented on the strong relationship between the Pensacola community and the military at NAS Pensacola.
 
“Here in Pensacola, in the ‘Cradle of Naval Aviation,’ we are a family with an unshakeable foundation, a family that stands the test of time and is unwavering in our defense of the constitution and the country whose course it directs,” said Garvin.
 
During three separate ceremonies at the National Naval Aviation Museum, Garvin and Capt. Edgardo Moreno, NASC’s commanding officer, presented the Purple Heart Medals posthumously to the families of Watson, Haitham and Walters.
 
“In these times the war zone is no longer limited to battlefields, it all too often finds its way to bastions where it is least expected,” said Cmdr. Michael Lofgren, NASC’s executive officer, who provided remarks at the ceremonies. “These heroes, selflessly and tirelessly preparing for a battlefield, suddenly and unexpectedly found themselves in a war zone.”
 
The Purple Heart Medal is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those wounded or killed while serving, on or after April 5, 1917, with the U.S. military.
 
For more information on NASC, visit https://www.netc.navy.mil/NASC.
 
For more news from NETC, visit https://www.netc.navy.mil.
  
 

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