Sailors aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Gonzalez (DDG 66) held a burial-at-sea ceremony aboard the ship, March 20, 2019.
During the ceremony, the crew honored 17 Sailors and one spouse, four soldiers and one Coast Guardsman.
“It was a privilege to be part of a ceremony to honor those who have come before us to forge the freedom that we so easily enjoy,” said Cmdr. Ray Glenn, the executive officer of Gonzalez. “Their service and sacrifice are why the U.S. military is respected around the globe today.”
Among those buried at sea were veterans of the Korean War, Vietnam War, Cold War, and World War II.
Sailors aboard Gonzalez are participating in training evolutions to strengthen areas in watch standing, damage control, and warfighting with allies in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations.
U.S. 6th Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied, and interagency partners, in order to advance U.S. national interests and security and stability in Europe and Africa.