Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. — The 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) will be conducting its opening ceremony on Monday to begin a week-long celebration in recognition of its historical lineage dating back to WWII.  The Menton week celebration is so named in recognition of the deactivation of the 1st Special Service Force (aka The Devil’s Brigade) in Menton, France in December, 1944.  The 1st Special Service Force was a joint U.S.-Canadian commando unit and all modern Special Forces Groups can trace their lineage to this organization.  The opening ceremony will consist of the unveiling of names on a marble memorial wall of the most recent Soldiers killed in action, a wreath laying ceremony, and building memorialization.  Key note speaker will be Col. Robert McDowell, Commander of the 1st SFG(A) and a representative of the Canadian Special Operations Regiment.

Media interested in covering Monday’s ceremony should contact the 1^st Special Forces Group (Airborne) Public Affairs Office at Office (253) 967-2817, or Cell (760) 504-3175 before 8:30 a.m. Monday.