CFAY Honors Fallen Sailors and Gold Star Families with Bells Across America Ceremony
Sailors, Gold Star families and community members gathered in the Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka (CFAY) Headquarters Auditorium Sept. 24 for the annual Bells Across America for Fallen Service Members ceremony, a tribute honoring Sailors who died on active duty and supporting the loved ones left behind.
Organized by the Fleet and Family Support Center and the Navy Gold Star Program, the ceremony brought the community together to remember and reflect. As each fallen Sailor’s name was read aloud, a ship’s bell tolled across the park. The U.S. 7th Fleet Band played taps, adding to the reverence of the morning.
Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Capt. Jonathan Hopkins, spoke about the bond shared by families living on the installation, far from home.
"Our community in Yokosuka is unique," Hopkins said. "Living overseas and far from home, we become each other’s family. We work together, we raise our children together, and we depend on one another every single day. That is why when we lose a Sailor, the loss is profound. It impacts our neighborhoods, our schools, our workplaces, and every single one of us living on this installation."
He also shared a message of ongoing care and commitment with the survivors in attendance.
"To our Gold Star families and survivors who are with us, please know that you are never alone," Hopkins said. "Your Navy family has not forgotten you, nor will we ever forget your service member. We stand beside you today and every day, offering our love, our respect, and our unwavering support."
Hopkins was joined by Cmdr. Thomas Falconer, CFAY chief staff officer and master of ceremonies, and Cmdr. Yoon Choi, CFAY command chaplain. Together with Gold Star families, Sailors and guests, they walked forward during the service to place flowers on a memorial table in honor of the fallen.
Bells Across America has been held every year at Navy installations around the world since 2015, in conjunction with Gold Star Mother’s and Family’s Day, observed the last Sunday in September. The event draws on a long-standing naval tradition of ringing a ship’s bell for significant moments. Each toll represents a life lived in service and a promise to keep that Sailor’s memory alive.
The Navy Gold Star Program, established in 2014, provides long-term support and resources to the spouses, children, parents and siblings of fallen service members, ensuring that families always have a support system within the Navy community.
"As each bell tolls today, the names we read remind us of the sacred bonds we share as a Navy family," Hopkins said in closing. "May their memories bring us comfort, and may we always remember and honor their sacrifice." As the last name was read and the final bell echoed, those gathered stood together in a moment of silence, bound by shared loss, community strength and the promise to never forget.
CFAY provides, maintains and operates installation facilities and services in support of the U.S. 7th Fleet's forward-deployed naval forces, 71 tenant commands, and more than 27,000 military and civilian personnel and their families.
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