Story by PA2 Bobby Nash, PADET Jacksonville, Fla.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The Coast Guard held memorial services for Lt. Jessica Hill and Petty Officer 2nd Class Steven Duque after their deaths Aug. 17 in honor of their faithful service to the Coast Guard and their country.
Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. -- A Coast Guard honor guard receives the remains of Petty Officer 2nd Class Steven Duque at Ft Lauderdale International Airport, Aug. 24. Duque, of Miami Lakes, Fla., died August 17 while on a diving mission in the Arctic ocean approximately 500 miles north of Barrow, Alaska. Members who volunteered to participate in the honor guard were close friends of Duque who served with them at Coast Guard Station Ft. Lauderdale from February 2003 to October 2004. Coast Guard photographs by PA2 Jennifer Johnson. 
ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. -- Members of the Coast Guard Ceremonial Honor Guard fold a flag to be presented to Lt. Jessica Hill's parents while her portrait overlooks the memorial service held in her honor Aug. 24. Lieutenant Hill died while serving aboard the Seattle-based Coast Guard Cutter Healy. Coast Guard photograph by PA1 Donnie Brzuska.
Hill and Duque died during a dive operation in the Arctic Ocean approximately 500-miles north of Barrow, Alaska, while serving aboard the Seattle-based Coast Guard Cutter Healy, a 420-foot ice breaker. The Healy was engaged in a science mission when the accident occurred.
The memorial service for Jessica Hill, 30, of St. Augustine, Fla., was held at The Mission of Nombre de Dios in St. Augustine. After her memorial service, which abounded with friends, family and fellow service members, Hill was laid to rest in a burial at sea.
The memorial service for Steven Duque, 22, of Miami Lakes, Fla., was held at Coast Guard Station Fort Lauderdale, Fla., which was attended by countless service members, loved-ones and friends. After his memorial service, Duque was laid to rest in a burial at sea.
Hill and Duque's unfortunate deaths are constant reminders that the missions of the Coast Guard are dangerous and necessary to protect the freedom of all American citizens.
The cause of the accident is under investigation.
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