Aviano holds memorial, celebrates life of AFN broadcaster

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Michael O'Connor
  • 31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy --  Nearly 200 Airmen and civilians stood at attention as Master Sgt. Andrew Henne conducted a role call during a memorial ceremony in the base theater here Oct. 26.

Sergeant Henne, the 31st Force Support Squadron first sergeant, called out, "Staff Sgt. Jenkins." "Present sir!" "Senior Airman Ciciora." "Present sir!" "Senior Airman Harris." "Present sir!" "Airman 1st Class Lagudi." The room filled with silence. Sergeant Henne repeated, "Airman 1st Class Lagudi." No response. Sergeant Henne called out a third and final time, "Airman 1st Class Lauren Lagudi." Still no response.

The 24 notes of "Taps" played by a bugler from the 31st Fighter Wing base honor guard immediately followed. The eloquent and haunting sound of those notes reminded those in attendance that Airman Lagudi, a former American Forces Network Aviano affiliate broadcaster, is no longer here among the living and beckoned them to remember her the way she was and how she served her country with honor.

"I have had the honor of leading many great Airmen in my career and without a doubt I can say Lauren was one of the finest I have ever had the privilege to serve with," said Senior Master Sgt. Robert Valenca, AFN Aviano affiliate superintendent in a written statement read by Col. Patrick McClelland, 31st FW vice commander. "My words cannot express the extreme sorrow I feel in my heart at the loss of such a great Airman and an even greater person."

Sergeant Valenca could not be present for the memorial as he was escorting Airman Lagudi home to her family in Texas.

In his statement, Sergeant Valenca wrote about driving to work every day with "Your Morning Fix" with Airman 1st Class Lauren Lagudi, getting to see her shining face across the hall from his office, and how much she enjoyed her job.

"At times, this meant I had to endure her raising the music up and dancing around like she was auditioning for the music video," said Sergeant Valenca. "Then there were Mondays after her Miami Dolphins would play. She would come in bragging about how much she loved Pennington, and how her team had played that weekend. This was an endearing quality, because you have to love a woman who loves football. But it also showed she had absolutely no common sense when it came to teams."

Those in attendance quickly broke out in brief laughter.

Throughout the ceremony, several of Airman Lagudi's closest friends and family described her awe-inspiring personality and the Airman and wingman she was to everyone she came in contact with.

Senior Airman Jaime Ciciora and Airmen 1st Class Louis Self and Justin Cantrell each took turns talking about their individual interactions with her and how she grabbed life by the horns and lived each day to its fullest.

"I was Lauren's sponsor to Italy," said Airman Ciciora. "I was there when she flew in for the first time and I took her out for her first gelato and espresso. And I was there when she flew out of Italy for the last time. Every time I think of Lauren when I close my eyes, I'm going to picture her jumping around a map of Italy and giggling like an elf with that laugh of hers."

Airmen Self spoke about Airman Lagudi being so full of life and how she vowed to not waste another day following her release from the hospital a year ago following a near death experience in which she was in a coma for nearly three weeks before making a full recovery.

"I remember when I first met Lauren back in June '08," he said. "I remember thinking, 'Why is this girl so happy--all the time. Then I found out she was from Texas, (those in attendance chuckled), that explains it," he added.

Airman Cantrell, also known as "Lauren's prom date," spoke about their time in high school together, watching and cheering for her Dolphins during football season even though he didn't like the team, being a passenger in a car she was driving and having to listen to her music selections, and hanging out in San Antonio, or as she referred to it, "SA Town."

Brig. Gen. C.Q. Brown Jr., 31st FW commander and several wing chaplains spoke about her and her impact on the men and women in the wing, while fellow broadcaster Senior Airman Jarid Watson whom she was joined at the hip with, sent in a recorded video from his deployed location for everyone to watch.

Chief Master Sgt. Jeff Craver, 31st Operations Group chief enlisted manager, read a letter on behalf of Airman Lagudi's father, retired Chief Master Sgt. 'Sal' Lagudi.

"On behalf of my wife Susan, my sons Sal and Robert, and myself, I'd like to thank all of you for your thoughts, prayers, and support of our family and our beloved daughter Lauren. As many of you know, Lauren was very proud and honored to serve our great nation and the Aviano Air Base community. She was an incredibly optimistic and caring person who saw the good in everyone. For Lauren, working as a radio and television broadcaster was a dream come true. Please know that we are comforted with the knowledge that Lauren lived life to the fullest and was truly happy there. She felt blessed to have the opportunity to work with so many wonderful professionals at AFN and with the entire 31st Fighter Wing. May God bless and watch over each of you."

Airman Lagudi, born in Niagara, N.Y, is an Air Force "brat", but considered San Antonio home.

Her father served 26 years in the Air Force and her mother was a broadcaster who served a tour of duty at Zaragoza Air Base, Spain, and at the Vicenza Army Garrison in Vicenza, Italy. According to her parents and coworkers, Airman Lagudi was an active member of the base community and used her personality, charm and broadcasting experience to bend the ear of base leadership in keeping them in-tune with lower-ranking Airmen.

With less than two years in the Air Force, Airman Lagudi was already a force to be reckoned with as she took home the 2008 Outstanding New Broadcaster Award during the annual Air Force media contest.

Airman Lagudi was found dead Oct. 20, 2009 near the Pordenone train station following a missing person report filled Oct. 19. The station is located about 10 miles from the base.

An investigation into the facts and circumstances surrounding her death is ongoing and is being conducted jointly by the local Air Force Office of Special Investigations and Pordenone officials. More information will be released as it becomes available.