Veterans Memorial Park ... A Place of Sacred Remembrance
The Wingman Foundation By Chris Comeau The Wingman Foundation of was founded by three active duty Marine Corps aviators in late 2014. Each serving nearly a decade with multiple deployments, they saw many tragic losses in the aviation community. Sadly, friends and families were often left to seek support through sister organizations. On Oct. 1, 2014, a MV-22 crew chief died in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. Deeply affected by yet another loss to the community, they agreed to make a change that evening. Remarkably, all three were in different parts of the world at the Foundation’s beginnings. Jack was deployed in Japan and in Kuwait, while Ken was training in the United States. Attempting to organize and build support through the difficulties of being in vastly different time zones with spotty connectivity while in the midst of executing their missions, The Wingman Foundation was born. With the support of friends and the Marine Corps community, the three were able to successfully launch their organization without ever being in the same country at the same time.
The Foundation grew through the following year to an all-volunteer staff of more than a dozen active and former Marine and Navy pilots and civilians. The organization now supports both Navy and Marine Corps aviation on both U.S. coasts, as well as those stationed abroad.
Ashley Lukasciewicz, Wingman Foundation’s Head of Physical Memorials, presents checks to the Veterans Memorial Park Foundation of Pensacola totaling $32,500.00 in support of the Marine Aviation Memorial Bell Tower and the Gold Star Families Memorial Monument project. Park foundation members, Dave Glassman and Stan Barnard pose with Ashley
Salutes The Wingman Foundation! The Wingman Foundation’s generosity is funding projects that support U.S. Navy and Marine Corps families of fallen Sailors and Marines and memorialize the historic valor and sacrifices made by these aviation warriors through the Foundation’s physical memorials program. The organization’s history is emblematic of how projects with modest beginnings that go boldly forward toward noble goals can culminate in success. “We ensure our fallen heroes are never forgotten and the loved ones they leave behind are always supported,” noted retired Marine, Wingman Foundation Director of Operations Ricky Savage. AHERO salutes the promise and the proof of that statement. In 2018, the organization donated $15,000 to the Veterans Memorial Park of Pensacola, and in 2019, another $32,500, for a total of $47,500. These funds are for the ongoing maintenance of, additions to, and ceremonies around the Park’s Marine Aviation Memorial Tower, with $7,500 for the Gold Star Families Memorial. Such generous gifts demonstrate the Wingman Foundation’s commitment and underscore its members’ determination to make sure iconic symbols such as the Marine Aviation Memorial Bell Tower and Gold Star Families Memorial Monument remain viable as reminders to all that our freedom comes at great cost.
56 AHERO MAGAZINE
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