This past Friday, Jacksonville paid tribute to the soldiers who were aboard the USS Stark 28 years ago when it met its untimely death. The ceremony of remembrance was held at Naval Station Mayport, which included several members of the 1987 crew of Stark, along with family members of those who were aboard the ship that day.

In total, 37 soldiers died while on patrol in the Arabian Gulf when the ship was hit with two missiles. In lieu of all of the damage that inevitably occurred that day, the crew managed to save the ship. The USS Stark was officially retired in 1999, which is also when the first ceremony was held in its honor.

As a way of keeping the memory alive of the bravery that the crew from the Stark demonstrated that day, they have made sure to make the memorial a yearly tradition.

According to Bill Austin, of the Naval Station Mayport, “I think it’s very important to continue the tradition of honoring those shipmates that fell during that time. There was loss and we need to honor that loss and sacrifice and we do that every year here at Naval Station Mayport. We ring the bell for each sailor that was lost. It’s a very solemn ceremony but it’s a tribute that we will continue to do here and rightfully so.”