EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. — “We assemble here today to remember the sacrifice of (explosive ordnance disposal) technicians and comfort their loved ones left behind.”

With those words, Navy Capt. Adam Guziewicz, the Naval School EOD commander, welcomed almost 3,000 people to the 42nd annual memorial service honoring EOD technicians past and present.

Fifteen names of EOD technicians from the various services killed last year were added to the EOD Memorial Wall, bringing the total of technicians killed in combat since World War II to 269.