Members of the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center and the Presidio of Monterey community listen as the Commandant, Col. Christy Whitfield, speaks during the Memorial Day ceremony held May 22, 2025.
Members of the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center and the Presidio of Monterey community gathered on Soldier Field to commemorate Memorial Day in a solemn ceremony held May 22, 2025.
The event, honoring the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to the nation, served as a reminder of the profound cost of freedom and the enduring legacy of those who gave their lives to defend it.
Kurt Porter, a three-time graduate of DLIFLC, speaks during a Memorial Day ceremony held May 22, 2025.
The ceremony featured remarks from Kurt Porter, a three-time graduate of DLIFLC in Vietnamese and Russian, whose extensive service includes nearly three decades in the U.S. Navy and federal service, providing critical cryptologic and intelligence support in diverse global theaters.
“This weekend, don’t just fire up the grill,” Porter told the audience. “Pause. Reflect and remember. Live a life worthy of their sacrifice to protect the freedoms they died for and keep teaching the next generation why these freedoms matter.”
During the ceremony, DLIFLC Commandant Col. Christy Whitfield spoke about the Institution’s commitment to remembering the fallen. “Generation after generation, selfless Americans have stepped forward to defend our freedom…including those from the Defense Language community. This day offers the opportunity to reflect on their sacrifice and their remarkable lives of service. They will never be forgotten.”
The event concluded with a ceremonial wreath-laying and the playing of Taps.
