NORFOLK, Va. — It goes down as one of the darkest days in U.S. Naval history: October 12, 2000.
17 sailors were killed and 37 were injured in the terrorist suicide bombing attack on the guided missile destroyer USS Cole.
On Thursday, exactly 23 years later, modern-day Cole sailors at Naval Station Norfolk paid tribute to the fallen heroes: reading their names aloud, laying a wreath and rendering solemn honors with a 21-gun salute and the playing of "Taps."
Current Cole Commanding Officer Commander Tim Clark said: "Today, we honor them and remember their sacrifice. Gone but never forgotten. We remember."
For family members, this day is always hard.
Especially when they think about how slowly the wheels of justice have turned.
The al-Qa'ida operative charged with masterminding the crime — Abbd al rahim Al Nashiri — remains locked up at Guantanamo, but he has never gone on trial.
"I am a firm believer in justice. And justice does take time. Too much time, unfortunately," said Jamal Gunn, brother of fallen Cole sailor Cheronne Gunn.
Lorrie Triplett lost her husband, Andrew, that day. She said: "Every year is going to be October the 12th. So, there is no justice for what happened. It was senseless. It was a senseless killing."
Following the attack, the Cole was repaired and has deployed overseas multiple times.
Most recently, the Cole returned to Naval Station Norfolk last September, following a nine-month deployment to the 5th and 6th Fleet areas of operation as part of the USS Harry S. Truman Strike Group.