Wall of honor provides special holiday meaning

Friday, Dec. 25, 1998 | 10:28 a.m.

A wall of honor created at the entry of Selma F. Bartlett Elementary School in memory of 12 airmen who died in a training mission last September took on even greater significance last week as a result of the bombing of Iraq.

"Kids were walking by the wall and wondering if (this person or that) was in Iraq," said Gigi Smith, a school volunteer who helped put up the wall. "It has made an impact on them. They are more aware. Teachers were saying the students were more concerned."

The wall has pictures of the 12 airmen who died as well as pictures brought in by students of their fathers, grandfathers and great-grandfathers who were in the service.

It was created as part of this year's Holiday Outreach program, started in 1996 when concerned students wanted to raised funds for a staff member who was seriously ill.

A Holiday Outreach Committee was formed by the Parent Teacher Organization to spearhead the project, which was so successful the committee has found worthwhile projects every year. This year's project is to raise money to build a permanent memorial to the 12 airmen at Nellis Air Force Base.

"It's teaching the students to give something back. It makes them feel good," Smith, co-chairwoman of the committee, said.

Last year, the committee's project was to help homeless children.

"We raised over $5,000," Melissa Hungerford, former committee chairwoman, said.

The money was used to fill decorated shopping bags with things homeless children need.

This year, Hungerford said, the tragic loss of the 12 airmen seemed to be a worthwhile subject.

"I feel patriotism is a lost subject in school," Hungerford said. "Students don't really know why there's a Veterans or Memorial Day."

The 12 men were a part of the 66th Rescue Squadron, which is a rescue force that is called upon to save the lives of downed Air Force personnel. The squadron has aided local authorities in numerous rescues involving civilians as well.

The six men killed on one of the HH-60G Pavehawk helicopter were: Capt. Gregg Lewis, pilot; Capt. Phillip Miller, co-pilot; Staff Sgt. Kevin Brunelle, flight engineer; Staff Sgt. Kenneth Eaglin, flight engineer; Senior Airman Jesse Stewart, para-rescueman; and Master Sgt. Matthew Sturtevant, gunner.

Those on the second helicopter were: Lt. Col. William Milton, pilot; Capt. Karl Youngblood, co-pilot; Tech. Sgt. Jeffrey Armour, flight engineer; Senior Airman Adam Stewart, flight engineer; Airman 1st Class Justin Wotasik, para-rescueman; and 2nd Lt. Michael Harwell, mission-essential ground personnel.

Since November the 900 students have raised more than $5,000, through a raffle and other fund-raising events, to go into a fund that was established on Nellis Air Force Base for the memorial shortly after the accident.

The special account has been set up at the Armed Forces Bank at the base for the memorial project. The account is No. 8542775, the Rescue Living Memorial Fund.