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April 4, 2019 - VFW Post 8904 and Auxiliary members gathered at the Shelby County Veteran's Memorial located before the Historic 1885 courthouse March 22, 2019.
Larry Hume, Post Quartermaster, led the ceremony and provided a history of the campaign in Kosovo.
"Twenty years ago on March 24, 1999 NATO launched an air campaign called Operation Allied Force. It was called to halt the humanitarian devastation that was unfolding in the country of Kosovo, and the decision to intervene followed more than a year of fighting within the province and the failure of international efforts to solve the conflict by diplomatic means," said Hume.
Hume stated, "NATO announced the suspension of the air campaign on June 10, 1999 once it concluded a military technical agreement with the federal republic of Yugoslavia. NATO casualties were light and the alliance suffered no fatalities as a result of combat operations."
"However, two American Army helicopter pilots, Chief Warrant Officer David Gibbs and Kevin Riker died when their helicopter crashed in the early hours of May 5, 1999. Now the crash was not due to enemy fire, but two of America's finest died that day serving their country."
"It's in their honor in remembrance to those who served in Kosovo that we remember today."
A memorial wreath was hung on the Shelby County Veteran's Memorial by VFW Post 8904 member Travis Snider followed by Taps presented by Post Commander Gene Hutto.
