Army
GalleryRose-laying ceremony honors fallen Special Forces soldiers at Fort Bragg
Stars and Stripes
May 20, 2026
A red rose lays on a memorial stone in honor of a fallen soldier during 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne)’s annual Rose-Laying Ceremony on Fort Bragg, N.C., May 20, 2026. (Kristina Randall/U.S. Army)
Soldiers, veterans and Gold Star families placed roses on memorial stones honoring the fallen heroes of the 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) during a ceremony Wednesday at Fort Bragg, N.C.
A single rose was laid on 60 stones, all of which represent “real teammates, brothers, sons, fathers and friends,” U.S. Army Col. Carl Benander, commander of the unit, said in a service news release. The gesture serves as an affirmation that the unit will never forget its fallen.
With Memorial Day approaching Monday, Benander said he hopes the group will honor their unit’s sacrifices by “dedicating ourselves to a life of service.”
A U.S. Green Beret assigned to 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) presents a rose on memorial stones during 3rd SFG(A)’s annual Rose-Laying Ceremony on Fort Bragg, N.C., May 20, 2026. (Seu Chan/U.S. Army)
A Gold Star mother lays a pink rose on her late son, Sgt. 1st Class Jeremiah W. Johnson’s memorial stone during 3rd SFG(A)’s annual Rose-Laying Ceremony on Fort Bragg, N.C., May 20, 2026. (Kristina Randall/U.S. Army)
U.S. Green Berets assigned to 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) line up to present roses on memorial stones during 3rd SFG(A)’s annual Rose-Laying Ceremony on Fort Bragg, N.C., May 20, 2026. (Seu Chan/U.S. Army)
A U.S. Green Beret assigned to 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) pays his respects to a fallen hero’s memorial stone during 3rd SFG(A)’s annual Rose-Laying Ceremony on Fort Bragg, N.C., May 20, 2026. (Seu Chan/U.S. Army)
U.S. Green Berets assigned to 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) line up to present roses on memorial stones during 3rd SFG(A)’s annual Rose-Laying Ceremony on Fort Bragg, N.C., May 20, 2026. (Kristina Randall/U.S. Army)
A U.S. Green Beret assigned to 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) presents a red rose on a memorial stone during 3rd SFG(A)’s annual Rose-Laying Ceremony on Fort Bragg, N.C. May 20, 2026. (Kristina Randall/U.S. Army)