America's First Combat Aviators Memorialized
(May 30, 2009) | 
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| PARIS (5/26/2009 - AFNS) -- In a lush and serene park on the outskirts of Paris,
U.S. Air Forces in Europe Commander, Gen. Roger A. Brady joined several hundred
American and French citizens beneath an ornately sculpted ceremonial arch to pay
homage to aviators, known as the Lafayette Escadrille. The 68 volunteers flew in
defense of French democracy against the central powers during World War I.
After speaking about the tradition of Memorial Day in American culture, General
Brady cited the heroic contributions of Gen. Marquis de Lafayette and his French
soldiers who aided Gen. George Washington during the American Revolutionary War.
The general said Americans have never forgotten how, some 232 years ago, France
stood by Americans in their fight for independence and how that historic
partnership continues to benefit both countries today. |
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A missing-man formation of F-16 Fighting Falcons follow French Mirages and a
Naval Air Factory N3N biplane (not shown) in a flyover at the Lafayette
Escadrille Memorial ceremony outside of Paris May 23, 2009. French and American
citizens here paid homage to some of the United States' first combat aviators
known as the Lafayette Escadrille. The all-American squadron of volunteers flew
under the French flag during World War I. The F-16's belong to the 52nd Fighter
Wing, Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany. |
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"Fortunately for all of us, today's generation of young men and women, French,
American -- and many others, fought together and continue to fight together in
places like the Balkans and Afghanistan. As comrades in arms, we're tirelessly
ensuring security and stability and guaranteeing a safer world for all of us."
Dineen Angrisani, a native New Yorker who has lived in France for more than 10
years, was attending the ceremony for the third consecutive year with her
11-year-old daughter, Celine.
Angrisani currently serves as the overseas committee chair for nearly 250
American Girls Scouts living overseas in Paris and says it's important for them
to maintain ties with their own culture. Last November, more than a dozen of her
Girl Scouts participated in a Veteran's Day ceremony at the 81-year-old
memorial.
"We encourage the girls to attend and participate in the ceremonies because
history becomes reality for them and it's important they realize the sacrifices
men and women made and continue to make for our freedom, liberty and security,"
she said.
The audience for the ceremony, a diverse mix of French and American dignitaries,
veterans, locals and tourists, witnessed a low flying biplane and formations of
French Mirages and F-16 Fighting Falcons in three separate flyovers.
The sculptured arch, built in 1928, is half the size of central Paris' Arch of
Triumph. Upon the structure are inscribed the names of the deceased American
pilots of the Escadrille de Lafayette and the Lafayette Flying Corps. Also
embedded in the 81-foot edifice are the names of the French towns and provinces
where the pilots were engaged in aerial combat with the German air force.
In the basement of the monument, a sanctuary crypt contains 68 sarcophagi - or
stone coffins. Some are empty because of the impossibility in locating or
removing the pilots' remains.
One of the coffins preserves the remains of Raoul Gervais Lufbery, the third
highest scoring American ace during World War I with 17 confirmed victories. He
was the first American to reach ace status.
Senior Airman Michael Murphy, one of nearly 15 honor guard members who traveled
from Ramstein Air Base, Germany to help officiate the ceremony, said it was his
first time visiting the Lafayette Escadrille Memorial.
The heating, ventilation and air conditioning specialist assigned to Ramstein's
735th Civil Engineer Squadron admitted that his only knowledge of the Lafayette
Escadrille came from watching the movie "Flyboys."
"It was pretty cool reading the inscription (located in the crypt) saying 'These
bodies are commemorated here so that they could lay rest on the soil that they
died for,'" he said.
The two-year veteran honor guardsman said visiting a memorial like the Lafayette
Escadrille made an impact on him.
"Being in a place like this, there's more appreciation for the event and there's
a whole new level of excitement when you're performing. It's an awesome
feeling," he said. | |
Article and photo by USAF Master Sgt. Scott Wagers
Defense Media Activity - Ramstein
Copyright 2009
Reprinted from
Air Force News Service
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