A bicyclist places a flag at the foot of the Defending Freedom Memorial at Red Rock National Conservation Area, Las Vegas, May 14. The Defending Freedom Memorial honors fallen servicemembers with ties to Nevada and provides a forum for the community to express its appreciation for this sacrifice. The Defending Freedom Memorial was initially dedicated in 2005 and is comprised of seven sandstones with the engraved names of Nevada's fallen servicemen and women.

Col. Kit Lambert, 99th Security Forces Group commander, speaks during the 6th annual Defending Freedom Memorial dedication ceremony at the Red Rock National Conservation Area May 14, 2011. Hosted annually, the event honors fallen servicemembers with ties to Nevada and provides a forum for the community to express its appreciation for this sacrifice. This year, the names Nellis Airmen Senior Airman Michael Buras, Staff Sgt. David Smith, 1st Lt. Joel Gentz and Capt. David Wisniewski were added to the memorial. All four Airmen were lost in 2010 while supporting operations in Afghanistan.

The shadows of Nevada Congressman Joe Heck and his son, Joseph, are visible as they pay their respects at the Defending Freedom Memorial at Red Rock National Conservation Area May 14, 2011. Congressman Heck was a guest speaker at the 6th annual Defending Freedom Memorial dedication ceremony. Hosted annually, the event honors fallen servicemembers with ties to Nevada and provides a forum for the community to express its appreciation for this sacrifice.

Attendees listen as guest speakers honor fallen servicemembers with Nevada ties during the 6th annual Defending Freedom Memorial dedication ceremony at the Red Rock National Conservation Area May 14, 2011.

The Defending Freedom Memorial is located at the Red Rock National Conservation Area in Las Vegas.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capt. Anthony Simone, his wife Andrea and Master Sgt. Christopher Aguilera look upon the newly revealed memorial plaque for rescue crew PEDRO 66 after the memorial here June 9, 2011. Capt. Simone and Master Sgt. Aguilera were injured when their HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter crashed in southwest Afghanistan June 9, 2010 killing five of their fellow crew members.

Mr. Chester Wisniewski and his wife Beverly, parents of fallen HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter pilot Capt. David A. Wisniewski, touch their son's name on a memorial plaque dedicated to the crew of PEDRO 66.The plaque was revealed during a one year anniversary memorial ceremony honoring the fallen crew members here June 9, 2011.

Family, friends, coworkers, and members of the Nellis community gather to honor and remember the crew of PEDRO 66, during a one year memorial service here June 9. The PEDRO 66 crew's HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter crashed in southwest Afghanistan June 9, 2010 killing five of the crew and critically injuring two.

A Memorial plaque dedicated to the crew of PEDRO 66, was revealed during a one year memorial ceremony honoring the fallen crew members June 9, 2011.

Chief Master Sgt. Vincent L. Marler, 99th Air Base Wing Command Chief, and Chief Master Sgt. Frank Batten, Command Chief for the 23rd Wing Moody Air Force Base, Ga., read a memorial plaque dedicated to the crew of PEDRO 66, that was revealed during a one year anniversary memorial honoring the fallen crew members here June 9, 2011.

Staff Sgt. Lucas Ferrari, a pararescueman from the 48th Rescue Squadron, shakes the hand of Anthony White, father of Senior Airman Benjamin White, and presents him with a ceremonial street sign with Airman White's name on it here June 9. Tech. Sgt. Michael Flores and Senior Airman Benjamin White, both pararescuemen from the 48th RQS, were killed in the Pedro 66 crash in Afghanistan June 9, 2010.

Senior Master Sgt. Michael Atkins (middle), 48th Rescue Squadron, salutes a newly unveiled memorial plaque while Staff Sgt. Brandon Daugherty (left) and Staff Sgt. Brent Moore, both members of the 48th RQS, stand at attention here June 9. The memorial plaque honors Tech. Sgt. Michael Flores and Senior Airman Benjamin White, both pararescuemen from the 48th RQS, who were killed in the Pedro 66 crash in Afghanistan June 9, 2010.

A newly-unveiled memorial plaque rests on a pedestal beside the 48th Rescue Squadron headquarters building here June 9. The plaque depicts Tech. Sgt. Michael Flores and Senior Airman Benjamin White, both pararescuemen from the 48th RQS who were killed in the Pedro 66 crash in Afghanistan June 9, 2010.