The Naval School Explosive Ordnance Disposal (NAVSCOLEOD) hosted the 48th Annual Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Memorial Ceremony at the EOD Memorial next to the Kauffman EOD Training Complex on Eglin Air Force Base, Florida May 6.

The EOD community from each of the joint Services gathered to honor the memory of 320 EOD heroes and add 6 additional EOD Technicians to the EOD Memorial.

Those added to the memorial this year include Army Sgt. 1st Class Biddle Carrol Izard, Jr. killed in action on June 19, 1968 while serving in Vietnam; Army Tech. Sgt James H. Eberle, killed in action on Aug. 23, 1944 while serving in WWII; Navy Senior Chief Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician Scott Cooper Dayton killed in action Nov 24, 2016 while serving in support of Combined Joint Task Force, Operation Inherent Resolve; Navy Chief Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician Jason Christopher Finan killed in action Oct 20, 2016 while serving in support of Combined Joint Task Force, Operation Inherent Resolve; Navy Ensign Charles Williams Grice, Sr. killed in action May 14, 1945 while serving in WWII; Navy Gunner's Mate Seaman Robert Paul Burr was killed in action July 16, 1944 while serving in WWII.

Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. John Richardson delivered remarks at the ceremony.

"The men and women of the EOD community live by an ethos", said Richardson.

Richardson went on to state a phrase in the ethos, "I will willfully accept the danger of my chosen profession and will accomplish all duties my great countries ask of me."

Richardson concluded with, "I'd ask that you say a prayer for all those who are on this wall, including those EOD technicians we have today, deployed around the world who continue to put themselves in harm's way, to continue to put themselves between danger. Say a prayer for all those Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines around the world putting their life on the line defending that very fragile thing we call freedom."

NAVSCOLEOD's service detachment commanders and senior enlisted placed a wreath next to their respective service's cenotaph on the EOD Memorial while a fellow service member read the names of their fallen EOD heroes aloud, concluding with the phrase "We Remember." The respective service senior Admiral or General then presented a flag (previously flown over the EOD Memorial) to each of the families.

"We Remember" signifies the very essence and ethos of EOD Technicians to never forget the extraordinary efforts and sacrifices of our EOD brothers and sisters who made the ultimate sacrifice.

The EOD Memorial stands as a monument to the honor, courage, and commitment exemplified by EOD Technicians from the joint services as they performed the EOD mission.

The EOD badge and its three levels (Basic, Senior, and Master) became the standard for all Services in the 1950's. To this day, the EOD badge remains the only badge in the military identical in all branches of service. This unique distinction reflects the vital role of NAVSCOLEOD in training joint EOD warriors.

The commanding officer of NAVSCOLEOD, Capt. Charles Andrews said, "I wish we didn't have a memorial and I wish we didn't have any names to remember. I would hope that we never have to add more names. War is an ugly thing, it is up there with the ugliest of things. As Einstein said, "so long as there are men, there will be wars." Unfortunately, for us there will also be associated costs. These costs are often our best and brightest."

The EOD Memorial honors 326 EOD Technicians who have died in the line of duty since 1942; over 130 of those since 11 September 2001.

The EOD Memorial Foundation, established in 1969, merged with the Wounded EOD Warrior Foundation in March 2013 to serve and support the joint service EOD community.

"These warriors who made the ultimate are heroes. We gather to remember their courage and their dedication and to honor their sacrifices, and the sacrifices their loved ones continue to make every day. It is an honor and privilege to preserve their legacy and to provide support to their families," said Mrs. Nicole Motsek, executive director, EOD Warrior Foundation.

NAVSCOLEOD, located on Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, provides high-risk, specialized, basic and advanced EOD training to U.S. and partner nation military and selected U.S. government personnel each year.

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