Airmen pay respect to fallen hero

  • Published
  • By Lois Walsh
  • Team Eglin Public Afffairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  When Col. George "Bud" Day made the journey to his final resting place, Eglin Airmen were there to honor a man they held in high esteem.

Day, a Medal of Honor recipient and combat pilot with service in World War II, Korea and Vietnam, died July 27 at the age of 88. Airmen from the 96th Mission Support Group rendered their final salute as his remains traveled to Barrancas National Cemetery on Naval Air Station Pensacola Aug. 1.

When Staff Sgt. Nathaniel Darling heard about Day's passing and the planned memorial service, he considered ways the SFS resource protection section, where he's NCOIC, could honor Day. His initial thought was 10 or 15 fellow Airmen could line Brooks Bridge to remember a local hero. With support from the 96 MSG leadership, its Chiefs Group and buses from Ground Combat Training Squadron, that number grew to 103.

The typical weather pattern threatened the Airmen's tribute when heavy rain poured down just as the memorial service started. The Airmen weren't worried about the rain but knew lightning would halt their plans and deny them a chance for a final farewell.

That would have disappointed Staff Sgt. Michael Thompson, NCOIC of plans, who was another Airman who admired Day.

"I heard the idea and thought it was a great way to pay respect to someone so highly decorated and with such a storied past as Colonel Day," Thompson said. "We don't always get an opportunity to do something like this but it was a great thing to do."

"We get called heroes all the time; but to me, it isn't heroic to go downrange for six months, that's what we volunteer to do," Darling said. "What he did was above and beyond what someone would be called to do in service. He gives a lot of meaning and depth to what it means to be a patriot and I think it's very important we recognize people who show that degree of service and commitment to the country."

Thompson agreed.

"Being out there in force not only showed the people who attended the service, but the community, how the military feels about the importance of Colonel Day's actions."

Thompson said a lot of people were waving and supporting the Airmen as cars passed along the bridge.

Retired Chief Master Sgt.Tony Bordogna, a 30-year AF veteran who lives in Shalimar and spent more than nine years in Vietnam and Thailand, was one of them. He said the tribute was unique.

"Even as an old G.I., I've never seen that before," he said. "It was a tremendous tribute to Colonel Day."