Ceremony pays tribute to UH-60 crash victims, unveils memorial

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Lindsey Maurice
  • 31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy --  Members of the Aviano Air Base and Santa Lucia di Piave communities joined together Nov. 8 to unveil a special memorial honoring those U.S. military members who lost their lives in a tragic UH-60 Blackhawk crash on Nov. 8, 2007 and to remember those Italian World War I heroes of Piave.

The memorial, a nature-inspired monument, honors helicopter crash victims Air Force Capt. Cartize Durnham, Staff Sgt. Robert Rogers, Staff Sgt. Mark Spence, Senior Airman Kenneth Hauprich, Army Capt. Christian Skoglund and Chief Warrant Officer Two Davidangelo Alvarez.

"Today, we mark the one year anniversary of our loss and pause to remember the sacrifices these men and their families made for their country," said Brig. Gen. Craig Franklin, 31st Fighter Wing commander. "We also note that with the passage of time, with the support of friends and family, like those gathered here, and with the help of God almighty, our loss becomes less painful."

"We recall the positive impacts that Christian, Cartize, Davidangelo, Rob, Mark and Kenny all made upon us individually and collectively," said the general. "We remember their work ethic, commitment, selflessness, humor and their laughter."

Five of the crash survivors and the family members of those who did not survive began the morning with a private visit to the UH-60 Black Hawk crash site along the Piave River.

"I think you saw it in their (the families') faces," said Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Jimmy Browning, 31st Fighter Wing. "It was a time of remembering. It was a time of grieving. It was a time for healing. I think it was encouraging for them as they came to the site where the crash happened to feel the support of the community -- the entire Air Force and Santa Lucia di Piave."

The ceremony, which was set to begin at 12:17 p.m., the exact moment of the helicopter crash one year ago, paid special Italian and American military honors to the victims including the presentation of the colors, both national anthems, speeches from the Mayor of Santa Lucia di Piave and 31st FW commander, as well as special poems, songs and invocations, a 21-gun salute and the playing of "Taps."

Artist Sonia Tadiotto, the memorial artist, also shared a special poem, "the Hug of Nature," giving insight into her inspiration for her design. Family members and survivors were asked to come forward and lay a yellow rose on the memorial, representing a loved one lost.

"Our Italian neighbors are wonderful people who care about life and really showed a great deal of care for us as Americans today," said Chaplain Browning. "... and this isn't just about remembering the Americans who died here, but the thousands of Italians who died in the Piave River many years ago."

"That's why we came up with the saying 'Italians and Americans committed to never forget the heroes of Piave and to remember the helicopter crash of 8 November 2007,'" he said. "It is sacred ground because blood was bled both by war and tragedy and that has united us."