Honoring the fallen

Dozens of airmen associated with the 524th Fighter Squadron gathered Friday afternoon to witness the rededication of a memorial at Cannon Air Force Base.

The large stained glass window, which mirrors the squadron’s patches, features the hound mascot, clouds and a lightning bolt. Small silver nameplates for nine pilots who lost their lives flying jets from Cannon surround the brightly colored piece of artwork.

The memorial, which originally hung in the squadron’s Heritage Room, was relocated because the fighter squadron will be inactivated Aug. 30 in preparation for Air Force Special Operations to assume command of the base in October.

The 524th is the second of three fighter squadrons to be inactivated. The 523rd, or Crusaders, was inactivated May 10.

According to Cannon Air Force Base public affairs spokesperson 2nd Lt. George Tobias, the memorial dates back to the Tactical Air Command era.

Maj. Jason Cockrum, 524th operations officer, said the ceremony was sad on many levels.

“It (rededication) brings me sadness and it brings me a lot of honor,” Cockrum said.

Although the memorial is special to the squadron, Cockrum said every plaque and banner belonging to the 524 has meaning. “There is sadness that we are losing history,” he said. “Everything was someone’s big deal.”

Lt. Col. (Chaplain) Robert Gallagher said the base chapel is an ideal location for the stained glass window. “It (memorial) will teach generations about the history and heritage of our heroes.”

Cockrum echoed Gallagher’s sentiment.

“This history will live on despite the new mission,” Cockrum said, “and it will always have a permanent home at Cannon Air Force Base.”