FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 30, 2011

Marana, AZ

Marana Regional Airport To Host U.S. Marine Memorial Service

Mike Flynn, Commandant of the Marana Nighthawk 72 Detachment #1344 Marine Corps League, announced today that there will be a Memorial Service at the Marana Regional Airport on Saturday, April 9, 2011 at 10:00AM to honor the 19 U.S. Marines that were tragically killed in an MV-22 Osprey Tilt rotor aircraft accident at the Airport on April 8, 2000.

The ceremony will include posting of colors by the Marine Corps; wreath laying by various organizations; guest speaker Col. Chris Griffin, CO 3/5; rifle salute, taps, bag piper and vocalist Marine Amanda Paquette.

The event is free and open to the public.

Additional Background Information
The MV-22 Osprey Tilt rotor aircraft was conducting a training mission in support of Operational Evaluation (OPEVAL) when it went down at the Marana Regional Airport in Marana, Arizona on April 8, 2000. During the mission, the crew and Marines conducted Non-combatant Evacuation Operations (NEO) exercises as part of the Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course, with Marines embarking and disembarking the aircraft. The mission was conducted at night utilizing night vision goggles and forward looking infrared radar to enhance night operational capability. This mishap aircraft was part of the Multiservice Operational Test Team, based at Patuxent River, Maryland, but was temporarily attached to Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron-1 at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona.

The 19 Marines Lost were as follows:

3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division
Sgt. Jose Alvarez, 28                                               Pfc. Gabriel C. Clevenger, 21
Pfc. Alfred Corona, 23                                             Lance Cpl. Jason T. Duke, 28.
Lance Cpl. Jesus Gonzalez Sanchez, 27                Lance Cpl. Seth G. Jones, 18
2nd Lt. Clayton J. Kennedy, 24                               Lance Cpl. Jorge A. Morin, 21
Cpl. Adam C. Neely, 22                                           Pfc. Kenneth O. Paddio, 23
Pfc. George P. Santos, 24                                      Lance Cpl. Keoki P. Santos, 24
Cpl. Can Soler, 21                                                   Pvt. Adam L. Tatro, 19

Marine Wing Communications Squadron 38, Marine Air Control Group 38
Cpl. Eric J. Martinez, 21

Marine Helicopter Squadron 1
Maj. John A. Brow, 39                                             Maj. Brooks S. Gruber, 34
Cpl. Kelly S. Keith, 22

Marine Tilt-Rotor Training Squadron 204
Staff Sgt. William B. Nelson, 30

Additional information contact: Mike Flynn (520) 904-2460 MaranaMarines@hotmail.com