Boone Man Among 4 Remembered In Memorial For National Guard Plane Crash


Yesterday a moving memorial service was held in Charlotte at the 145th Airlift Wing of the N.C. National Guard. Almost 15 hundred people packed the large hanger to pay tribute to the 4 North Carolina airmen killed July the first when their plane crashed while dropping flame retardant protecting property and lives near Edgemont, South Dakota. Lt. Col. Robert Carver presented roll call to the unit, after each name was read of the fallen soldiers, an escort answered for each family, walked to the stage , and uncovered black shrouds draping large portraits of each airman. Gov. Bev Purdue was on hand to speak about each of the airmen and their service to our country. Each of these brave men as well as their families knew and understood the risk and reward of the missions they would undertake. Gov. Purdue stated.
She also spoke about the plane they flew the C-130 Hercules, named after the mythological character that was known for his strength. Sadly Boone also was one of the towns in North Carolina to lose an American hero as Major Ryan (Da-veed) lived here in Boone. Major Da-veed 35, was an air force navigator on the C-130 , he always wanted to be in the military and was deployed 6 times during the Iraq War, said a family member from Nebraska. He loved what he did and we will not only remember him as an American hero, but a home town hero as well. Major Ryan (Da-veed) leaves behind his wife Jenny Ellerbe (Da-Veed) and Rob his infant son of 10 months. We at MTN 18 would like to express our deepest sympathies to the families of Major Ryan (Da-Veed) of Boone, Lt. Col. Paul Mikeal of Mooresville, Major Joe McCormick of Belmont, and Senior Master Sgt. Robbie Cannon of Charlotte.