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Memorial Day Ceremonie to be held at Bardsdale Cemetery
By Anonymous — Wednesday, May 21st, 2014
Memorial Day services will be held at the Bardsdale Cemetery on Monday, May 26th at 11AM. Featured speaker this year is Commander Michael J. Hammond, Retired, United States Navy. Commander Hammond has ties to Fillmore including his Uncle the Rev. Bob Hammond who will be giving the Inspirational Message. Michael is also the grandson of the late Reg Hammond and great grandson of George & Gertrude MacPherson all of Bardsdale. Commander Hammond graduated from the US Naval Academy in 1988 following in his father’s footsteps who graduated from the Naval Academy in 1966. He attended flight school in Pensacola, Florida and became a full-fledged “unrestricted” naval aviator in February 1990. Unrestricted refers to helicopter pilots since they are the only ones authorized to fly both fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft. He served several squadrons in San Diego and Hawaii, deploying aboard cruisers, frigates & destroyers, assigned all over the Western Pacific and Persian Gulf including a deployment as part of Operation Desert Storm. In total he amassed over 2000 flight hours over a lengthy career, During his last squadron tour he was sent to the Seahawk Weapons and Tactics Instructor Training Course in Fallon, Nevada, graduating with the first class of instructors for his type of helicopter. Six years later he was chosen to stand up his community’s first ever Weapons School and serve as Commanding Officer. In 2006, after relinquishing command he moved his family to Fairfax, Virginia where he served out the remainder of his naval career at the Pentagon. He and his family still reside in Fairfax, Va. and after 23 years of active duty service Michael retired in 2011. He continues to serve in the Department of Defense as a defense contractor for Booz Allen Hamilton. Michael is married to his wife Pam and has four children. |
