BARNES AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Massachusetts -- Barnestomers honored 13 Airmen fallen in flight from the 104th Fighter Wing during the F-100 memorial rededication ceremony, May 20, 2022, at Barnes Air National Guard Base, Massachusetts.
The F-100 monument was originally dedicated on May 17, 1987 by the 104FW Chief Master Sergeant’s Council. It continues to serve as a reminder of fallen Airmen’s impact on the unit.
“Memorial Day commemorates those who gave their last full measure of devotion,” said Col. David ‘Moon’ Halasi-Kun, 104FW vice commander. “As service members we are compelled to reflect on the generations of our brave predecessors who stood strong for democracy with unyielding courage.”
The 104FW gathers every May to hold the ceremony, honoring the service of the fallen unit members with the placement of a wreath, a 21 gun salute, taps, and an F-15 flyover.
Engraved upon the memorial where the wreath is placed, are the names of unit members who passed away in aviation related events:
1st Lt. Edward W. Meacham, Monomoy Point, Massachusetts, Aug. 17, 1948
Maj. Robert Anderstrom, Granby, Connecticut, May 7, 1954
1st Lt. Richard Brown, Granville, Massachusetts, Oct. 19, 1954
Tech. Sgt. Austin A. Cooper, Granville, Massachusetts, Oct. 19, 1954
Capt. Frank A. Gibe, Westfield, Massachusetts, July 28, 1956
Maj. Richard W. Mahoney, New Orleans, Louisiana, April 22, 1961
1st Lt. Joseph F. Crehore, Chalons, France March 21, 1962
Capt. Hugh M. Lavalle, Upstate New York, Nov. 16 1963
Capt. John H. Paris, Westfield, Massachusetts, July 17, 1964
Maj. James Romanowicz, Granby, Massachusetts, Feb. 1, 1965
Capt. Leonard E. Bannish, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, May 30, 1968
Maj. John S. Southrey, Wells, New York, Sept. 17, 1986
Lt. Col. Morris “Moose” Fontenot Jr., Deerfield Valley, Virginia, Aug. 27, 2014
“I think it is important to remember that our nation’s fallen each has a name, and that name was given to them by their family.” said Halasi-Kun. “For the family, the name is an unbreakable connection that forever binds them to love, to loss, and to pain. We have 13 of those names. We may not know them personally, but know this, their life and their death have meaning. So I ask you, how will you honor them? How will you take their memory beyond Memorial Day, to inspire your service to this nation, strengthen your relationships with friends and family, and to live each day like the gift that it is?”