18th Wing commander Memorial Day message Published May 24, 2012 By Brig. Gen. Matt Molloy 18th Wing commander KADENA AIR BASE, Japan -- Shogun Warriors, As we prepare to take some well deserved time off this weekend, I ask that each of you take a moment to remember the sacrifices of those brave men and women who have served our great nation before us, and to be safe when enjoying the beautiful island of Okinawa. Memorial Day is a time of national awareness and reverence to honor those Americans who died while defending our Nation and its values. Each day, we are reminded that liberty and security come with a great price. Since 2001, more than 6,400 of America's sons and daughters have given their lives in Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, and New Dawn to keep our nation secure. They leave behind husbands and wives; sons and daughters; brothers and sisters; mothers and fathers. Our nation is blessed to have service members who exemplify commitment to duty, courage in the face of danger and adversity, and a selfless dedication to serve. The notions of selflessness and sacrifice are displayed every day by Team Kadena Airmen, Sailors, Soldiers, Marines and civilians. This was evident last week as we conducted the local operational readiness exercise. You showed a sense of urgency and understanding of how important and critical our mission is here at the Keystone of the Pacific. You demonstrated that Team Kadena is ready to Fight Tonight and Win Tomorrow! Just as important are the sacrifices your families make every day. A high operations tempo, multiple deployments, and living in unfamiliar surroundings far from home require strength and commitment. We could not carry out our mission without the love and support from our family members Work hard, play hard has been a motto for many at Kadena. While you take time this weekend to play hard, please also take time to think about safety and being a good Wingman. The Air Force Chief of Staff, Gen. Norton Schwartz commented that "a big part of being effective wingmen is looking out for each other." He said each of us has two responsibilities when it comes to being wingmen. The first is to keep ourselves physically and mentally fit. The second is to identify warning signs in fellow Airmen, intervene, and get them help when needed. Since FY02 the Air Force has experienced 218 fatalities during the Critical Days of Summer. Let's do all we can to keep this summer fatality free. If you drink, drink responsibly; if you go to the beach, think about water and sun hazards; and remember that we are in rainy season, so drive carefully on the wet roads. Let's do everything we can to ensure we all have an enjoyable weekend and a safe summer. You and your families are valuable to the Kadena family. From the Molloy family, we thank each and every one of you and your families for all you do to keep our nation free as we continue to Aim High ... Fly, Fight and Win!