Gander Memorial Rededication (Update)
2050, 28 Jul 2017
Today we finally completed our mission and held a ceremony at 101st FMSU/DMPO rededicateing the Avillan/Murray Stone. This has been a long, 19 month process to get this important memorial back in its place of honor. The ceremony was attended by several former 101st Finance Soldiers including 12 who were there on the day of the crash. LTG Karen Dyson delivered an inspiring address making note of the Herculean efforts made by finance soldiers to take care of the surviving family members of the 248 soldiers killed in the crash of Arrow Flight 1285 on 12 December, 1985. I want to thank CSM (R) Jeff Green; MSG (R) Bruce Prater; SFC (R) Mary Kay Null; SFC (R) Sharon Medley, and former SGT Kevin MacDonald for all their help in making this happen. I have provided a link on the Retired Army Finance Soldiers Facebook page where you will find a video of the ceremony. Air Assault!
Larry Elsom
Update:
Jeff and I spent Monday and Tuesday at Fort Campbell visiting with the troops at 101st FMSU/DMPO and attending the ceremony rededicating the 101st Finance Gander Crash Memorial honoring CPT Luis Avillan and SSG Michael Murray who were killed, along with 246 other 101st Soldiers when Arrow Flight 1285 crashed in Newfoundland on 12 December, 1985. Bruce and I and several other retired enlisted finance soldiers have been working on this project for 19 months. After a considerable amount of red tape and back and forth with the FCKY chain of command, we were finally successful in getting the granite stone placed and rededicated in its rightful and honored place on the grounds of the 101st FMSU.
LTG Karen Dyson was the guest speaker and delivered a powerful, inspiring address to about 25 former 101st Finance Soldiers, including 12 who were assigned and present, as she was, at the time of the crash, plus all of the current members of the FMSU. As part of her remarks, LTG Dyson recognized Bruce for his efforts in helping design and build the original brick memorial that was dedicated in 1986. She also singled our former SGT Kevin MacDonald who was instrumental in designing and placing the granite Avillan/Murray Stone in 1994. It was a very respectful and dignified ceremony and it was a good day for our Corps.
In our spare time at the two social gatherings, Bruce and I recruited 3, possibly 4 new RAFINO members.
(if you wish to post a comment on this bulletin, please log in)
