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Gold Star families gather at NAS Oceana to honor the fallen

Each year, the Navy Gold Star Program organizes a tribute in Virginia Beach to the fallen.

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — At Naval Air Station Oceana, Gold Star families gathered to honor their fallen service member.

They were on base at the ‘Chapel of the Good Shepherd,’ to participate in the fourth annual ‘Roll Call of Remembrance.’

Each year, the Navy Gold Star Program organizes this tribute in Virginia Beach.

During the ceremony, more than 80 military members, connected to Hampton Roads, had their names read out loud.

This yearly tribute is not only in observance of Memorial Day, but it’s an opportunity to remind people in the community that these heroes aren’t forgotten.

“Realize that the men and women that you see out and about town, and you see the jets flying over there are serving our country and they’re putting their lives on the line,” said Captain Chad Vincelette, Commanding Officer of Naval Air Station Oceana.

John Straseskie is a Gold Star Brother. He’s one of more than two hundred family members in attendance.

“It’s healing and empowering to be able to be here and to honor his legacy the way we do in this community,” said Straseskie.

It’s a moment Gold Star Father, Mark Stets, said helps unite grieving families.

He said, “Because every time somebody comes and knocks on the door and says ‘we regret to inform you’... the feeling that they get is this is, no one else has gone through this before and we all have.”

During the tribute, both Virginia and North Carolina’s Governors declared May as ‘Gold Star Awareness Month.’

Honoring our Fallen Heroes not just for a day, but all of May.

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