Yesterday I attended the memorial for The Mt. Tom B-17 men
who were killed on July 9, 1946 while landing at Westover Air Force Base. The
weather conditions were not good and they missed clearing the peak by 30 feet.
All 25 of the men killed were returned from having fought in World War II and
were returning home to resume their lives prior to the war. They were never
given that opportunity to do so.
This year’s memorial marked 70 years to the day of when the
accident happened and also marked 20 years since the memorial stone marker was
erected. To me, last year’s ceremony was very quiet and sedate while this
year’s was very big in its presentation.
This year, there was a sign clearly marking where to turn
in. There were young men in camouflage uniforms every 15 feet or so keeping the
traffic moving to the old ski lodge at the bottom of the mountain for parking.
There were cadets from the Civil Air Patrol that did the Presentation of Colors
(U.S.
flag and Stage flag).
Also presented were the: Opening Remarks by Robert
Cahillane, Chairman; Kiernan Rushford who sang the National Anthem; Invocation
by Father Robert Gentile from Blessed Sacrament Church, Holyoke: Master of
Ceremonies, Al Stettner, nephew of Alfred L. Warm one of the 25 men killed;
Welcome Speech by Alex Morse, Mayor of Holyoke; Remarks by Captain Timothy
Tobiasz, USCG, Commander and Richard Lee, American Red Cross; Memorial Fly Over
aircraft and pilots, 1940 Fairchild M62 Pt 19A, pilot August Gorreck, and a
1943 Boeing Stearman Pt 17, pilot Bill Kulle; Roll Call by Linda Abrams and
Civil Air Patrol Cadet; Closing Prayer by Rev. David Whitely, Chaplain, VAMC,
Leeds, MA; Benediction by Cantor Ellen Stettner, niece of Alfred L. Warm; Taps
by Jake Roberts and Closing Remarks by Robert Cahillane.
A truly moving ceremony that was dedicated to 25 men who
never had the experiences one does from returning from war. They are remembered
every year thanks to all the efforts by the Stettner family which was their
mother’s wish.
If you would like to read more about the ceremony I attended
last year go to the July 13, 2015 posting and you will find more details.
Until next time…
