CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – On the banks of the Tennessee River, beneath a bright summer sky, the city of Chattanooga gathered Wednesday morning to mark a solemn milestone, ten years since the July 16, 2015, terrorist attack that claimed the lives of five U.S. service members.
Hosted by the Chattanooga Area Veterans Council, the “Ten Year Remembrance Tribute to the Fallen Five” took place at the Wreath of Honor memorial at Tennessee Riverpark.
Veterans, city leaders, military officials, and grieving families came together to remember those lost and reaffirm the community’s promise… that the Fallen Five will never be forgotten.
The ceremony included the placement of wreaths by U.S. Marines and Navy personnel at the memorial’s five granite pillars, each one representing a life lost.
The names of the Fallen Five were read aloud, etched into the hearts of those in attendance:
- Gunnery Sergeant Thomas Sullivan
- Staff Sergeant David Wyatt
- Sergeant Carson Holmquist
- Lance Corporal Squire “Skip” Wells
- Petty Officer Second Class Randall Smith
All five were killed when a gunman opened fire at two military sites in Chattanooga on July 16, 2015.
The attacker, 24-year-old Mohammad Youssef Abdulazeez, first fired at a recruiting center on Lee Highway before driving to a Navy Reserve center on Amnicola Highway, where he breached a security fence and continued his rampage.
He was killed in a shootout with law enforcement.
The FBI later classified the incident as an act of domestic terrorism inspired by extremist ideology.
Ten years later, their sacrifice was honored with full dignity and respect.
The tribute featured remarks from high-ranking officials including U.S. Marine Corps Brigadier General Kevin Jarrard, Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly, Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp, and Commander Tim White, who led the Navy Operations Support Center at the time of the attack.
Melissa Bayless performed the National Anthem, and the service concluded with a moving performance of “Amazing Grace” by U.S. Navy Commander Diron Cundiff on bagpipes.
Families of the fallen sat front and center, their grief and pride visible even a decade later.
As the ceremony came to a close, one thing was clear… While time has passed, the commitment to remember remains stronger than ever.
