Hillside Memorial



The UNSC Hillside Memorial is a tribute to the fallen soldiers of the United Nations Space Command who fought and died during the 7|28-year Human-Covenant War.

The Memorial
The memorial was set up by Fleet Admiral Terrence Hood, and survivors and Marines attended it, including Gunnery Sergeants Pete Stacker and Reynolds, Private First Class Chips Dubbo and Thel 'Vadam (the Arbiter). The memorial takes the form of the wing of a D77H-TCI Pelican Dropship, with the names and photographs of people fallen in defense of Earth, an inscription stating the official end of the Human-Covenant War, and a small section devoted only to the Master Chief, presumed to be dead by the UNSC, in contrast to the ONI policy of declaring deceased Spartans as MIA.

The Tribute
Lord Hood removes his cap and makes a speech remembering those deceased. A senior Marine NCO (Sergeant Stacker in this case) directs the ceremony. He orders 7 Marines to stand in a line, draw their Battle Rifles and fire three volleys in unison, a 7|21-gun salute for the fallen.

Attendance
It was attended by some of the remaining Marines, Navy crew, and also the Arbiter who was the last being with Master Chief before the ship was cut in half.

Script
The Storm Has Passed

''On a hillside near the Gateway to the Ark, Marines and Naval personnel gather. Lord Hood removes his cap, and begins his speech.''

Admiral Hood: "For us, the storm has passed... the war is over. But let us never forget those who journeyed into the howling dark and did not return. For their decision required courage beyond measure; sacrifice, and unshakable conviction that their fight... our fight, was elsewhere. As we start to rebuild, this hillside will remain barren, a memorial to heroes fallen. They ennobled all of us, and they shall not be forgotten."

Admiral Hood puts his cap back on, and salutes.

Gunnery Sergeant Pete Stacker: "Present arms!"

''7 marines raise their Battle Rifles and each fire a three shots each: a 21-gun salute. The sound of the shots echo through Mt. Kilimanjaro. The panorama changes as the Marines fire each shot.''

{sunset}

Admiral Hood: (To Thel 'Vadam) "I remember how this war started. What your kind did to mine. I can't forgive you. But... (he holds out his hand) you have my thanks, for standing by him to the end."

Thel shakes Admiral Hood's hand.

Admiral Hood: "Hard to believe he's dead."

The Arbiter looks away, toward the Shadow of Intent, hovering silently in the sky.

Arbiter: "Were it so easy..."

Known Deceased (Posted on Memorial)

 * Lieutenant Commander Miranda Keyes
 * Sergeant Major Avery Junior Johnson
 * Master Chief Petty Officer SPARTAN John-117 (Missing in Action and assumed dead by the UNSC)
 * Various Marines and Naval personnel (possibly Army soldiers as well)

Trivia

 * Thel 'Vadam is the only Sangheili to attend the memorial.
 * The memorial indicates the end of the war. Similar memorials are made by all countries after modern-day conflicts.
 * With his inclusion in the memorial, the Master Chief is the only Spartan to officially be declared as KIA, yet he survives. Ironically, most of the other Spartans were killed over the war, but were all listed as MIA or WIA.
 * There are some photos on the memorial portraying Gunnery Sergeant Pete Stacker as depicted in Halo: Combat Evolved and Halo 2, although he himself was the senior NCO attending the memorial.