As a tribute for their ultimate sacrifice, a memorial honoring 29 military police killed in Iraq and Afghanistan from 2003-2011 was unveiled Friday at Joint Base Lewis-McChord's memorial park.

It was a tearful ceremony as 10 families of the fallen soldiers were at the 42ndMilitary Police Brigade memorial. The names of the 29 soldiers were inscribed on a black granite monument.

"We dedicate this memorial to the 42nd Military Police Brigade who paid the ultimate price in service to their country - their lives," Col. David Chase said.

In a somber moment, Marcia Westbrook reflected on her father, sergeant Marshall Westbrook of Farmington, N.M. He was 43 when he was killed Oct. 1, 2005 when a roadside bomb exploded near his Humvee in Baghdad.

"My dad was an awesome father and a wonderful husband to my mother," Marcia said. "He taught us so much when we were growing up."

Marcia was 22 when her father died. Her dad, who was born July 25, 1962 at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., was with the Albuquerque-based 126^th Military Police Company when he was killed. He had five children.

Marcia Westbrook said one of her favorite memories of her dad was when she traveled with her family to Ft. Polk, La., to visit him while he was training to go to Iraq.

"We were spending the day together and found this little restaurant that looked like a shack," Marcia said. "That was the first time I shared a beer with my dad and we just really talked like adults."

>>> Debra Ward, mother of 19-year-old Aaron Ward, attended the 42nd Military Police Brigade memorial Oct. 18 at JBLM. Photo credit: Staff Sgt. Faiza Evans

Just three months after arriving in Iraq, 19-year-old private Aaron Ward was killed by small-arms fire in Anbar Providence in May 2008.

Family members said Ward admired several of his relatives who served in the military and wanted to follow them and make a difference. Ward's mother, Debra Ward, attended Friday's ceremony, honoring her son and the other soldiers.

Debra Ward, who was wearing her son's dog tags, placed a flower on the MP memorial. The last time she talked with her only son was when he called to wish her happy Mother's Day. She said her son decided to go into the Army after he watched the terrorist attacks in New York when he was a young boy.

"The families were pleased that their family members were not forgotten," staff sergeant Faiza Evans said.

David Fahey, who was assigned to the 42nd Military Police Brigade, was killed Feb. 28, 2011 in Kandahar when insurgents attacked his unit and an IED exploded under his Humvee he was driving. His family was there at the ceremony to say their goodbyes.

Lt. Gen. Robert Brown said at the dedication that the commitment of these 29 men helped the country "to live normal lives while they and their families live lives of service and sacrifice."

The MP memorial ceremony was performed by the 42nd Military Police Brigade at JBLM.

The monument was paid for by donations from the Steilacoom sub-chapter of the Association of the United States Army and from the 42nd Military Police Brigade. The two groups also paid for the 10 families's flights, their lodging and for the ball that was held Friday evening.

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