Haunting Fort Hood Memorial Boots Rifles Helmets Victims

The bark of a 21-gun salute and a mournful “Taps” puncutated the silence today as several thousand soldiers, family members and survivors gave an emotional farewell to the 13 victims of the Fort Hood massacre.

The service, which included President Obama and the first lady, was rich in grim Army traditions. The ceremony was centered around a haunting row of framed pictures of the dead in front of a traditional Army salute to fallen soldiers: a rifle jutting out of empty boots with the soldiers’ helmets on top.

At the conclusion of “Taps” and the singing of “Amazing Grace” by an Army sergeant, Obama and his wife silently stopped in front of each photograph and left a commander’s “challenge coin,” another military tradition intended to honor a soldier’s achievement.

Some of the injured followed the president to the 13 memorials, many breaking down in tears.

Watch the Fort Hood Memorial Service Video HERE

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Tags: challenge coin, challenge coins, commander in chief coin, craven, military coins, presidential challenge coin