Evreux monument speach

Memorial Dedication Ceremony Evreux Air Base

18 September 2004

Bill Lloyd

President

317^th Veterans Group

It is my high honor to represent the veterans of the 317^th Troop Carrier Wing that served at Evreux Air Base and the families of those whom we are honoring on this historic occasion.

We are very proud to help dedicate this memorial to our fallen 317^th colleagues, friends, husbands and fathers. The respect and honor the Airmen of this base bestow on their predecessors is reflected in this great monument. A memorial to the American airmen and soldiers of this base who gave the ultimate sacrifice defending freedom for the United States and its allies. We have never forgotten them or will we forget this historic day.

This is a memorial to our heroes of the cold war, and the French Air Force and the French veterans of Base Aerienne 105 have ensured that their sacrifice will not be forgotten. It is appropriate that this memorial is here on Evreux Air Base where so many lost their lives in the line of duty and the French airmen have a tradition of embracing and preserving the history of this base.

This memorial is a testament to those who serve their country and will remind future generations of airmen the sacrifice of those who came before them. It will help instill the values of honor, duty and service to country that is a legacy of this base.

We are forever grateful to the French AF who have chosen to honor our heroes in such a lasting way.

Those whom we are honoring and remembering on this day are:

(Reading of the names)

FIRST	MI	LAST	DECEASED on	RANK
Roger	J.	Boender	1955	PFC
Howard		Grasher	September 19, 1958	Capt.
Elmer		Fawcett	September 19, 1958	1st Lt.
Charles		Tillou	September 19, 1958	1st Lt.
Robert	W.	Hancock	September 19, 1958	A1C
Frank	M.	Braun	September 19, 1958	A2C
David		McGrath	September 19, 1958
William	J.	Wilson	March 8, 1962	Major
Vincent		Stantucci	March 8, 1962	Capt.
Edward	J.	Vianco	March 8, 1962	Capt.
James	S.	Douglass	March 8, 1962	1st Lt.
Stanley	C.	Hardin	March 8, 1962	1st Lt.
Robert	L.	Conway	March 8, 1962	TSgt
Harold	E.	Kazee	March 8, 1962	TSgt
Alfred	J.	Knight	March 8, 1962	SSgt
Huey		Green	March 8, 1962	A1C
Stanley	E.	Royster	March 8, 1962	A1C
Theodore		Shedelbower	March 8, 1962	A1C
Cecil		Williams	March 8, 1962	A1C
Gayle	J.	O'Grady	March 8, 1962	A2C
James		Waples	March 8, 1962
Lee		Taylor	March 8, 1962
Frank		Sabal	May 17, 1962	Major
John	W.	Stuart	May 17, 1962	Capt.
Douglass	G.	White	May 17, 1962	1st Lt.
Jack	S.	Hake	May 17, 1962	TSgt
James	O.	Phillips	May 17, 1962	TSgt
Thomas	P.	Revell	May 17, 1962	TSgt
Richard	E.	Boyd	May 17, 1962	SSgt
Russell	D.	Jackson	May 17, 1962	SSgt
Thomas	J.	Neal	May 17, 1962	SSgt
Frank	J.	Leonard	May 17, 1962	A1C
Ervin	M.	Miller	May 17, 1962	A1C
Frederick	D.	Fisher	May 17, 1962	A2C
Lewis		Laslow	May 17, 1962	A2C
Tommy	M.	Britt	March 25, 1965	Capt.
Howard	L.	Atkins	March 25, 1965	1st Lt.
John	M.	Dickey	March 25, 1965	1st Lt.
Ray	M.	Litz	March 25, 1965	TSgt
James	F.	Watts	March 25, 1965	SSgt
Ellis	L.	McKay	March 25, 1965	A1C
Alwin	W.	Peace	March 25, 1965	A2C

Memorial Dedication Ceremony

18 September 2004

Jean Zabukovec

Sculptor

Ladies and Gentlemen, this Memorial inaugurated today was conceived to honour the memory of the deceased air-men for their military service between 1954 to 1967.

In order to do so, I choose 2 durable materials – Granite and Stainless steel which are the symbols of permanent resistance.

Symbols like the united friendship between the Americans and the French.

I also wished to associate the image of the D – Day landings, June 6^th 1944, by the presence of pebbles collected from the Normandy beaches. Pebbles I am sure conserve the memory of the blood and tears shed by the allied soldiers.

This is how I imagined this memorial.

I would now like to thank:

Bill Lloyd for his work with the Veterans.

Patrice Le Mao –for the connections he managed to weave between the two sides across the ocean.

Colonel Valentin and his personnel for the help they gave us.

My French friends present here, and my American friends, who were our intermediates during the mission, for the French liaison, in 1955, 1956 and 1957, some 50 years ago. Our office was near here.

Many thanks again to those whom by their presence honor this ceremony.

Thank you for your attention.