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BARNES AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Mass. – Barnestormers gathered to honor the 13 Airmen fallen in flight from the 104th Fighter Wing who made the ultimate sacrifice in the performance of their duties during the annual F-100 Memorial Rededication Ceremony, May 16, 2025, at Barnes Air National Guard Base, Westfield, Mass.
The F-100 monument was originally dedicated to the wing on May 17, 1987 by the 104FW Chief Master Sergeant’s Council, and continues to serve as a reminder of the impact that the fallen Guardsmen have with the unit. Since then, the wing continues to gather each May to hold the ceremony, honoring the service of the fallen unit members with the placement of a wreath, a 21-gun salute, and the playing of taps followed by an F-15 flyover.
This year’s rededication ceremony marks the final year that the flyover will be conducted in the F-15 Eagle, with the wing’s upcoming conversion to the F-35A Lightning. 104th Operations Group commander Col. Michael ‘Shot’ Glass and fighter pilot 1LT Eric ‘Gronk’ Flynn, conducted the flyover for the ceremony, and spoke on the significance of participating in the ceremony.
“This is my second year in a row leading the F-100 Rededication flyby, and it is always a privilege to get to represent the 104th Fighter Wing in such a way, especially for this event,” said Glass. “As we prepare for the arrival of the F-35A, using the F-15 for the last time during this event is especially significant for me. Lt Col Morris ‘Moose’ Fontenot was a close friend and colleague. Honoring him and all the other fallen 104th members one last time with the Eagle is a true honor.”
Flynn further emphasized the personal significance and impact of performing the flyover for the ceremony for the final time in the F-15.
“This will be my first time flying the F-100 rededication which has been a truly important tradition to me at Barnes over the years,” said Flynn. “Being able to take part in honoring the fallen heroes who gave their lives in service of this country is something that I will remember forever, and having the privilege of executing it in the F-15 one last time before we transition to the F-35 makes it even more special.”
During the ceremony, 104th Fighter Wing Commander Col. David ‘Moon’ Halasi-Kun delivered a powerful speech on the importance of remembering the generations of the wing’s brave predecessors who stood strong for democracy with unyielding courage.
“Our Nation’s fallen each has a name. That name was given to them by their family, and for the family that name is an unbreakable connection that forever binds them to love, to loss, and to pain. We have thirteen of those names. We may not have known them all personally, but know this – their life, their death has meaning. So I ask you - how will you honor them? How will you remember all of the fallen on this Memorial Day and take the memory of the individuals on this monument beyond today and beyond next week and inspire your service to this nation; to strengthen your relationship with your friends and family, and to live each day like the gift that it is?”
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
| Date Taken: | 05.16.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 05.20.2025 16:32 |
| Story ID: | 498325 |
| Location: | WESTFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, US |
| Web Views: | 42 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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