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        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders      Retired Army Air Corps Capt. Jerry Yellin speaks briefly before taking part in a wreath-laying ceremony commemorating the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, Aug. 14, 2015, at the Air Force Memorial in Arlington, Virginia. There was also a four-ship P-51 Mustang flyover, as well as a concert performed by the Air Force Band.  (Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Joshua L. DeMotts)World War II wreath-laying ceremony
                        
                        
                        Retired Army Air Corps Capt. Jerry Yellin speaks briefly before taking part in a wreath-laying ceremony commemorating the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, Aug. 14, 2015, at the Air Force Memorial in Arlington, Virginia. There was also a four-ship P-51 Mustang flyover, as well as a concert performed by the Air Force Band.  (Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Joshua L. DeMotts)
                
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        An Airman with the Air Force Honor Guard presents the wreath used in the wreath-laying ceremony at the Air Force Memorial in Arlington, Virginia, commemorating the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, Aug. 14, 2015. The Air Force Band also put on a concert playing music from the World War II era.  (Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Joshua L. DeMotts)World War II wreath-laying ceremony
                        
                        
                        An Airman with the Air Force Honor Guard presents the wreath used in the wreath-laying ceremony at the Air Force Memorial in Arlington, Virginia, commemorating the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, Aug. 14, 2015. The Air Force Band also put on a concert playing music from the World War II era.  (Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Joshua L. DeMotts)
                
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        A formation of P-51 Mustangs perform a flyover at the Air Force Memorial in Arlington, Virginia, commemorating the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, Aug. 14, 2015. The Air Force Band also put on a concert playing music from the World War II era. (Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Joshua L. DeMotts)World War II wreath-laying ceremony
                        
                        
                        A formation of P-51 Mustangs perform a flyover at the Air Force Memorial in Arlington, Virginia, commemorating the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, Aug. 14, 2015. The Air Force Band also put on a concert playing music from the World War II era. (Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Joshua L. DeMotts)
                
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        Members of the Air Force Honor Guard standby to present the colors during a wreath-laying ceremony, a four-ship P-51 Mustang flyover and the Air Force Band concert commemorating the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, Aug. 14, 2015 at the Air Force Memorial in Arlington, Virginia. (Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Joshua L. DeMotts)World War II wreath-laying ceremony
                        
                        
                        Members of the Air Force Honor Guard standby to present the colors during a wreath-laying ceremony, a four-ship P-51 Mustang flyover and the Air Force Band concert commemorating the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, Aug. 14, 2015 at the Air Force Memorial in Arlington, Virginia. (Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Joshua L. DeMotts)
                
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        Honorary conductor retired Col. Arnald D. Gabriel leads an Air Force Band performance on a stage beneath the Air Force Memorial in Arlington, Va., Aug. 14, 2015. The band performed music from the World War II era after a wreath-laying ceremony and a flyover to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II. (Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Joshua L. DeMotts)Greatest generation honored during wreath laying, AF band concert
                        
                        
                        Honorary conductor retired Col. Arnald D. Gabriel leads an Air Force Band performance on a stage beneath the Air Force Memorial in Arlington, Va., Aug. 14, 2015. The band performed music from the World War II era after a wreath-laying ceremony and a flyover to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II. (Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Joshua L. DeMotts)
                
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        The Air Force Band plays music from the World War II era after a wreath-laying ceremony and a four-ship P-51 Mustang flyover at the Air Force Memorial in Arlington, Va., Aug. 14, 2015, to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II.    (Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Joshua L. DeMotts)Greatest generation honored during wreath laying, AF band concert
                        
                        
                        The Air Force Band plays music from the World War II era after a wreath-laying ceremony and a four-ship P-51 Mustang flyover at the Air Force Memorial in Arlington, Va., Aug. 14, 2015, to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II.    (Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Joshua L. DeMotts)
                
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        World War II veterans (from left) retired Brig. Gen. James 'J. Richard' Compton, retired Army Lt. CJ Moore, retired Army Sgt. Ron Locke, retired Marine Corps Sgt. Charley Schuck and retired Navy Capt. John Reed applaud a performance by the Air Force Band at the Air Force Memorial in Arlington, Va., Aug. 14, 2015.  The event included a wreath-laying ceremony and a four-ship P-51 Mustang flyover to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II.  (Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Joshua L. DeMotts)Greatest generation honored during wreath laying, AF band concert
                        
                        
                        World War II veterans (from left) retired Brig. Gen. James 'J. Richard' Compton, retired Army Lt. CJ Moore, retired Army Sgt. Ron Locke, retired Marine Corps Sgt. Charley Schuck and retired Navy Capt. John Reed applaud a performance by the Air Force Band at the Air Force Memorial in Arlington, Va., Aug. 14, 2015.  The event included a wreath-laying ceremony and a four-ship P-51 Mustang flyover to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II.  (Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Joshua L. DeMotts)
                
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        Airmen salute as the colors are presented during a wreath-laying ceremony commemorating the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II at the Air Force Memorial in Arlington, Va., Aug. 14, 2015.  (Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Joshua L. DeMotts)Greatest generation honored during wreath laying, AF band concert
                        
                        
                        Airmen salute as the colors are presented during a wreath-laying ceremony commemorating the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II at the Air Force Memorial in Arlington, Va., Aug. 14, 2015.  (Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Joshua L. DeMotts)
                
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Greatest generation honored during wreath laying, AF band concertPublished Aug. 18, 2015
                    
                    By Senior Airman Hailey Haux
                    
                    
                    Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs Command Information
            **WASHINGTON (AFNS) --**As the sun began to set over the National Capitol Region, several hundred people gathered at the Air Force Memorial with the District of Columbia-city landscape as the backdrop to witness a wreath-laying event, followed by a concert performed by the United States Air Force Band Aug. 14.
The wreath-laying ceremony and concert were held to recognize the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II and “honor the greatest generation,” said Lt. Gen. James M. “Mike” Holmes, the deputy chief of staff for Strategic Plans and Requirements, Headquarters Air Force.
“We are here today to honor those brave and often heroic individuals who served during World War II, their achievements, dedication and courage,” said Scott Van Cleef, the Air Force Association chairman of the board. “We wish to say thank you for their sacrifices. Seeing these brave men and women who join us tonight, and remembering those who are here only in spirit, I can’t help but feel awed by the enormity of what they have achieved. We stand in the midst of patriots and family and friends of those who have nobly served. They were ordinary people who responded in extraordinary ways in extreme times. They rose to the nation’s call because they wanted to protect the country that had given them so much.”
Following a moment of silence, an all-white arrangement of flowers and blue ribbon intertwined wreath was laid at the base of the Air Force Memorial.
“It’s an honor to be recognized and to show the flag,” said retired Marine Brig. Gen. Donald Brooks, who served in the 1st Division in Okinawa, Japan, during World War II, and he attended the event with a group of people from Falcon’s Landing in Sterling, Virginia. “We are going to hear some great music tonight.”
Followed by the singing of the national anthem, a four-ship formation of P-51 Mustangs performed a fly-over.
“It is impressive to be here and be a part of this,” said retired Master Sgt. William Tayman, who retired after 22 years in the Air Force as a ground radio electronic technician.
The U.S. Air Force Band performed some of the top hits from the era and ended by singing the songs of all armed services as individuals stood to be recognized for their service to their country.
“I can’t express it, the music, it tears me up, I just have no way to express it,” said 95-year-old retired Army Brig. Gen. James ‘J. Richard’ Compton, a World War II physician, as tears began to well in his eyes. “You lose a lot of your very, very good friends and we were all just pulling together in an absolutely astounding time. People gave up a lot, they all had somebody involved in it and we still pray for them.”band 



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