COLORADO SPRINGS – Soldiers gathered at Fort Carson on Thursday for a memorial for two Green Berets, the post’s only soldiers to die in combat since last Memorial Day.

At Kit Carson Memorial Park near the post’s visitors center, the 15th annual Mountain Post Warrior Memorial ceremony brought together soldiers, veterans and the families of soldiers who died in service to their country.

“We trace Memorial Day ceremonies back to 1868 when it was known as Decoration Day and was a time to honor the Civil War dead by decorating their graves with flowers,” said Maj. Gen. Randy George, the commander of the post’s 4th Infantry Division.

“The intent for this day was that we should not only remember those who died in defense of their country but also renew our pledge to aid and assist those who they left among us,” he said.

Fort Carson started memorializing its dead in 2004 at The Mountain Post Global War on Terrorism Fallen Soldiers’ Memorial.

The memorial consists of several large slabs of stone circling a statue of Kit Carson.

The names of 399 soldiers who have died in combat since 2001 are etched into the rock.

“With heavy hearts, we add two additional names,” George said.

The two Green Berets remembered Thursday were serving with 2nd Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group. Both died in Afghanistan.

Sgt. First Class Stephen Cribben was killed Nov. 4 in Logar Province.

Sgt. First Class Mihail Golin was killed New Year’s Day in Nangarhar Province.

“Our formation will never be the same because of these losses, we know it’s not the pain our Gold Star families feel but it is a deep emptiness and great sadness,” George said.

Cribben is survived by his parents, his wife, Shelly, and two sons, Connor, 5, and Wyatt, 3.

Golin is survived by his parents, his ex-wife, Katerina, and 5-year-old daughter Vladia.

“We didn’t know them for as long as their families, but we can tell you about their bravery, their humor, their kindness, their stubbornness and their strength,” George said. “We can tell you they made us better soldiers, a better unit, a better Army and a better nation. We will always miss them.

“It is because of all of our soldiers, past and present, that our unit, this community and our nation have much to celebrate,” he said. “In return, may we each resolve to honor all fallen heroes by striving daily to live lives worthy of their sacrifice.”