B-66 Memorial Dedication
delivered by Gerry Parker
27 August 2004
General Reynolds, General
Kuyk, General Autery, General Metcalf, members of the families of our honored
comrades, fellow B-66’ers, ladies and gentlemen.
We have gathered here today
to dedicate this memorial to our fallen comrades. Each man whose name is
engraved on this stone died in the prime of life. All volunteered. None refused
to do his duty and all died with honor in the service of our country and in
defense of our freedom. When the time came to make the final flight, none
refused. Each one said “here am I, send me.”
Many of our comrades died in
far away places, all were apart from family and home – but were never away
from their friends in the Air Force. Today, those friends and families and many
others are gathered here to honor them. The inscription on this beautiful stone
reads, in part, “always remember that freedom has a price.” These men were
asked to pay that price. And when the time came, each said “here am I, send
me.”
And, although they were
struck down in the prime of life, their spirits live on. They live on in us –
their comrades, in their families and their friends, and in our Armed Forces.
Their spirits were those of warriors, and warriors inevitably pay the price for
all of us – a price often paid in blood and lives – a lesson that we are
again learning today as our forces are fighting and dying for our freedom. And
those young men and women who are fighting today are stepping forward and saying
“here am I, send me.”
Let us hope that future
generations will view this memorial to our comrades and be inspired by their
example. Let us hope that when the freedom of America is again threatened –
and make no mistake, it will be - they too will step forward and say “here am
I, send me.”
We dedicate this memorial to
the memory of our comrades who died and to their families and friends, and to
all who served with the B-66.
Thank you very much.