Sunlight parted storm clouds as paratroopers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade at Caserma Del Din paused to remember their fallen. During the ceremony, held just ahead of Memorial Day weekend, Col. Michael Kloepper and Command Sgt. Maj. Christopher Chapin, the command team for the 173rd, unveiled a memorial stone from Afghanistan.

Kloepper welcomed two Gold Star spouses, Italian mayors and several brigade veterans to the May 26 ceremony to remember those who died in Afghanistan in 2007-2008 and all Sky Soldiers killed in action. “We stand on the shoulders of giants and in the eternal shadows of our fallen heroes, challenged every day to the expectation so clearly defined in our memorialized lineage,” Kloepper said.