Rear Adm. Mike Bernacchi, commander, Naval Service Training Command (NSTC), and more than 75 recruits from the Navy's only boot camp represented the Navy at a Memorial Day event here, May 27.

Bernacchi was the keynote speaker at the 25th Norridge Veterans Memorial Day Program at the Norridge Veterans Memorial between the Norridge Police Dept. and the Village Hall. Each branch of the military was represented at the event that included the placing of more than 15 wreaths in front of a wall of plaques and two black obelisks dedicated to those who sacrificed their lives in America's wars.

"It is an honor to speak on behalf of the United States Navy today and it is truly a privilege to recognize our fallen American heroes with you on this Memorial Day weekend," said Bernacchi.

"We owe it to the heroes that died and the loved ones left behind to make sure that their sacrifices are remembered and that their service to this nation is always honored."

Before his speech, recruits from Recruit Training Command (RTC) paraded in more than 50 state and U. S. territorial flags. The recruits and flags were stationed on a hill directly behind the wall of plaques and main obelisk. Other recruits would later escort family members and veterans in the placing of a wreath in front of each plaque dedicated to America's wars beginning with World War I and ending with the current engagements in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"The fact that we get to do this and they (recruits) get this much spotlight, I think it's amazing," said Chief Interior Communications Specialist Jessica Douglas, a recruit division commander who escorted the recruits to Norridge.

"It's an honor to be here and an honor for the recruits to be part of this.

U. S. Army Brigadier Gen. Kris Belanger, commander of the 85th Reserve Support Command, joined the NSTC commander on the observation stand. The 85th Division, U. S. Army Band from Milwaukee, members of local area Veterans of Foreign Wars units and Legions, and the Norridge village president, city trustees and village officials were also present at the event.

"This is the number one event for the village of Norridge," said Village President James Chmura. "Everybody has had someone in the military, are currently in the military or they know someone with military ties. This event brings people together and shows that the United States can come together to honor those that have sacrificed for us."

Chmura thanked the admiral for attending the event and said that anytime the village has a military distinguished speaker attend they add to the event. "He can talk about situations (in the military) other people can't."

In his speech, Rear Adm. Bernacchi spoke on what it means to honor the men and women who never came home from war.

"To paraphrase former Navy Lt. John F. Kennedy, 'a nation reveals itself not only by the men and women it produces, but also by the men and women it honors - The men and women it remembers.'

"A key component of our nation's greatness lies in our ability to remember and honor the countless men and women who have died while serving in the military, bonded in the ideas of service, selflessness and honor. As we stand here today, I ask you to call to mind the lost, the wounded and all those who have served on behalf of our great nation."

Bernacchi and his NSTC staff, headquartered at Naval Station Great Lakes, Illinois, support 98 percent of initial officers and enlisted accessions training for the Navy. This includes the Naval ROTC at more than 160 colleges and universities; Officers Training Command (OTC) on Naval Station Newport, Rhode Island; RTC; as well as Navy JROTC/ Navy National Defense Cadet Corps at more than 600 high schools worldwide.

For more information about NSTC, visit http://www.netc.navy.mil/nstc/ or visit the NSTC Facebook pages at https://www.facebook.com/NavalServiceTraining/.

For more information, visit www.navy.mil, www.facebook.com/usnavy, or www.twitter.com/usnavy.

For more news from Naval Service Training Command, visit www.navy.mil/.