NAVAL SUPPORT ACTIVITY SOUDA BAY, Greece (May 21, 2022) Attendees gather at the Allied War Cemetery at Souda Bay, Greece, during a ceremony commemorating the Battle of Crete. This year marked the 81st anniversary of the Battle of Crete, which began the morning of May 20, 1941, when Nazi Germany launched an airborne invasion of Crete under the code name Unternehmen Merker (Operation Mercury). Naval Support Activity Souda Bay is an operational ashore base that enables U.S., allied, and partner nation forces to be where they are needed when they are needed to ensure security and stability in the European, African, and Central Command areas of responsibility. (U.S. Navy photo by Nicholas S. Tenorio)