Sailors aboard Naval Station Rota honored the sacrifice and service of those involved in the Battle of Midway during the 73rd Anniversary of the Battle of Midway commemoration ceremony at the Chapel.

Hosted by Rota's First Class Petty Officer Association (FCPOA), the ceremony honored the lives lost and shed light on the battle, which is considered to be one of the most significant Naval victories.

The Spanish-American color guard paraded the colors to formally kick off the ceremony, which included the national anthem, a history of the importance the battle has on today's Navy, and a wreath laying.

"We gather today to remember our Sailors and Marines who defended our freedom and national interest in places that were not easy to defend," said Chaplain Reginald Jones. "To these Sailors and Marines who have fought for our freedom ... laid down their lives ... who have taken on the suffering of mind and body, these Sailors and Marines we lift up to you today. From them we learn the virtues of selfless service, unswerving loyalty to country, discipline of teamwork, obedience and authority, perseverance and endurance in difficult and challenging times."

"The Battle of Midway is often referred to as the turning point in the Pacific during World War II, where the campaign in the Pacific had a momentum shift and our Navy's defensive posture became an insurmountable offensive posture. We, at Naval Station Rota, know that not only was history made on that small island, but that modern Navy warfare was changed," said Air-Traffic Controller 1st Class Jacob Ruiz, Rota's FCPOA president and the ceremony's host. "Today as we gather to commemorate the significance of the Battle of Midway and those who have served in it, we also celebrate the battles involving life-changers. As we commemorate the Battle of Midway we have the next generation of Sailors, Soldiers, Airmen, Marines, Coast Guardsmen, civilians, family members who can now clearly see before them just how a naval legacy evolves from being a pivotal moment in history to being the inspirational namesake of a warship that deploys to defend freedom and democracy around the world."

The Battle of Midway was one of the most decisive Naval battles of World War II and the turning point in the Pacific War. Thanks to intelligence and strategic planning, American combat forces were able to successfully sink four Japanese carriers. Consequently, the United States and its allies were able to move into an offensive position.

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