I'm Aisha Roscoe, and this is a Sunday story, where we go beyond the news of the day to bring you one big story.

Not long ago, on an unseasonably warm January afternoon in Washington, D.C., NPR's Lauren Hodges, attended a retirement ceremony for five service members who are being forcibly separated from the military.

Thank you for being here to honor five extraordinary service members whose combined service

exceeds 120 years. We gather today to recognize Colonel Breafram, United States Air Force,

Commander Blake Dremont, United States Navy.

Lieutenant Colonel Aaron Grazick.

As part of their removal, these former service members were not allowed to wear their uniforms.

Instead, to the left of the stage, a table of mannequins were dressed in the retirees

uniforms, from Army Green to Navy Blue, decorated with pins and medals, along with a pair

of well-worn boots.

This ceremony is unprecedented, not because their careers fell short in any way,

but because they shine so brightly in a military that cast them aside as unworthy.

71-year-old retired four-star general Stanley McChrystal arrived in a suit and tie to preside over the ceremony.

He walked up to the microphone.

First off, we shouldn't be here.

This was not a normal ceremony.

These service members were being separated because they're transgender.

Today, on the Sunday story,

we take a closer look at how the Trump administration

is using medical records to remove thousands of transgender troops,

a part of Defense Secretary Pete Hegsef's anti-D-EI push.

And we'll talk about how this effort may be distracting from mission readiness. We'll be right back.

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