Photo By Tech. Sgt. Michelle Alvarez | Nine fallen Airmen are honored during a memorial service at Muniz Air National Guard...... read more read more
Muñiz Air National Guard Base, Puerto Rico – The 156th Airlift Wing memorialized nine fallen Airmen today at a ceremony held for the families, unit members and invited guests.
On May 2, 2018 a WC-130H operated by nine 156th aircrew members crashed outside of Savannah, GA. On board ‘Rican 68’ were Maj. José R. Román Rosado, Maj. Carlos Pérez Serra, 1st Lt. David Albandoz, Senior Master Sgt. Jan Paravisini, Master Sgt. Jean Audriffred, Master Sgt. Mario Braña, Master Sgt. Víctor Colón, Master Sgt. Eric Circuns and Senior Airman Roberto Espada.
As a tribute to each of the Airmen, masters of ceremony shared stories and fond memories of each of their fallen brethren. National Guard, Air Force and state leaders; to include the Honorable Heather Wilson, Secretary of the Air Force, Chief of the National Guard General Joseph L. Lengyel, Director, Air National Guard, Lt. General L. Scott Rice, Puerto Rico Secretary of State Luis Rivera Marin, Puerto Rico Adjutant General Isabelo Rivera, attended to share their condolences about the tragedy.
The 156th Wing Commander Col. Raymond Figueroa thanked the families, unit members and guests for coming to pay their respects.
“Nothing can be said to truly express the emotions and feelings we share over the loss of our brothers in the Puerto Rico Air National Guard and above all and above everything we do in our unit we stand tall. We are truly a family,” said Figueroa.
He went on to express the importance of standing by one another, supporting each other and loving each other as a family and acknowledged that the Air Guard family will always take care of its own as he gazed across the audience and focused on the families of the fallen Airmen.
General Joseph L. Lengyel, Chief of the National Guard Bureau honored the fallen National Guardsmen and participated in the memorial service. He offered words of comfort to all in attendance.
“Circumstances like this rattle the soul. They shake us to the core. However they are part of our military experience and they shape our service,” said Lengyel. “We are here to say these Citizen Airmen have been a part of our lives and even though this is a sad occasion, I am glad that we can come and honor these Airmen as colleagues, fathers, sons, brothers, sons-in-law, husbands and companions. […] It is my sincere hope, that your memories of their lives well lived will overcome the pain you feel here today.”
More than 1,200 Airmen, Soldiers, Coast Guard and dignitaries and family members attended the service held in hangar 104 on the flight line that was home to the ‘Rican 68’ aircraft and its crew. This unprecedented event serves as a reminder that the men and women of the Puerto Rico Air National Guard serve as volunteers to this nation, even if it means paying the ultimate price.
| Date Taken: | 05.11.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 05.12.2018 13:20 |
| Story ID: | 276815 |
| Location: | CAROLINA, PR |
| Web Views: | 230 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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