Francis S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base, Westhampton Beach, N.Y. -- Airmen, family members, and wing leaders gathered at the New York Air National Guard’s 106th Rescue Wing for the unit’s first Day of Remembrance ceremony, held at Francis S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base on May 22, 2025.
The ceremony honored 30 members of the 106th Rescue Wing who passed away in the line of duty or during their time in service. The ceremony served as an occasion of reflection and gratitude for their service, sacrifice, and the legacy they left behind within the wing.
Colonel Jeffrey Cannet, 106th Rescue Wing commander, delivered opening remarks, reflecting on the wing’s motto and emphasizing the importance of remembering every wing member.
“Our motto, ‘That Others May Live’, is not just a phrase that we recite,” he said. “It is a creed we live by; a promise etched into our hearts, and the driving force behind every mission and every decision we make. It represents our commitment to our moral imperative to never leave a man behind. Our fallen Airmen embodied this motto in its purest form.”
The ceremony featured a reading of the fallen's names, each followed by the ringing of a bell in solemn recognition. Once the names were read, taps was played.
Airmen who lost their lives in the line of duty included:
Seven Airmen on board a HH-0 Pave Hawk rescue helicopter, call sign “Jolly 51” who were killed during an operational mission in Western Iraq on March 18, 2018, when their aircraft hit a power line.
One Airmen assigned to the crew of the HH-60 Pave Hawk rescue helicopter call sign Jolly 110 which was forced down into the Atlantic on October 30, 1991 while on a rescue mission during what would become known as “The Perfect Storm.”
Seven members of the crew of a Sikorsky HH-3E “Jolly Green Giant rescue helicopter, with the call sign “Jolly 85” which crashed into Trembleau Mountain in Keeseville , New York on June 13, 1978 while on a training mission at Plattsburgh Air Force Base.
Lt. Col. Patrick McCarty, 106th Rescue Wing chaplain, offered words of comfort during the ceremony.
“May we remember that they are gone from our presence, but they are never gone from our hearts,” McCarty said.
The ceremony concluded with a Litany of Remembrance, read by Lt. Col. Brian McNamara, 106th Rescue Wing chaplain, followed by a benediction by Chaplain McCarty.
The 106th Rescue Wing plans to hold the Day of Remembrance annually, reaffirming its commitment to honoring the memory of those who have served and passed on.
“Today we remember,” said Cannet. “Today we honor. Today we recommit. May the memory of our fallen Airmen forever inspire us to serve with courage, compassion, and an unwavering dedication.”
The members that were honored included;
Jolly 85 (1978):
Capt. John Sfeir
Capt. John Kleven
MSgt. Allan Snyder
TSgt. Ronald Allen
TSgt. Ralph Tamassone Jr.
SSgt. Scott Hursh
SSgt. David Lambert
Jolly 110 (1991):
TSgt. Arden Smith
Jolly 51 (2018):
Maj. Christopher Zanetis
Maj. Andreas O’Keefe
Capt. Mark Weber, 38 RQS
MSgt. Christopher Raguso
MSgt. William Posch, 308 RQS
TSgt. Dashan Briggs
SSgt. Carl Enis, 308 RQS
Operations Group:
TSgt. Alfred Baldwin Jr. (1992)
SSgt. Victor Arnott (1980)
Medical Group:
Lt. Col. Deepinder Grewal (2025)
Headquarters:
TSgt. Natalie Tabois (2013)
Mission Support Group:
MSgt. Kevin Nash (2004)
A1C Jason DeLauro (2013)
Maintenance Group:
CMSgt. Jason Cooper (2017)
SMSgt. Mark Russitano (2021)
MSgt. John Stimpson (2022)
TSgt. Michael Austin (2018)
TSgt. Justin Puglisi (2024)
TSgt. Joseph Tandy (2016)
TSgt. Christopher Tsoi (2021)
SrA Matthew Rush (2011)
A1C Jorge Ramos (2012)
The 106th Rescue Wing, based at Francis S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base in Westhampton Beach, New York, operates and maintains the HC-130J Combat King II search and rescue aircraft, and the HH-60W Jolly Green II rescue helicopter. The 106th Rescue Wing is home to a special warfare squadron with pararescuemen and combat rescue officers, specializing in rescue and recovery, and deploys for domestic and overseas operations.