Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va. -- More than 80 members of the 71st Aerial Port Squadron took part in the Air Force wide Annual “Port Dawg” Memorial Run here, May 14, to honor fallen air transportation Airmen.
The 71st APS held the run to memorialize five aerial port Airmen who passed away in 2015, including one of their own.
Tech. Sgt. Isaac Gervasio, a reservist with the 71st APS, was killed November 2015, in Norfolk, Virginia.
Tech. Sgt. Isaac Gervasio/submitted photo
A U.S. Air Force Reserves Airman with the 71st Aerial Port Squadron pins an Air Force Achievement Medal on Sophia Gervasio, daughter of Tech. Sgt. Isaac Gervasio, during a memorial ceremony at Langley Air Force Base, Va., May 14, 2016. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. R. Alex Durbin)
“He’s always been my hero,” said Sophia Gervasio, his 15-year-old daughter in a previous media interview. “I lost my hero.”
The morning’s events started out with an official awards ceremony, where Gervasio was posthumously awarded the Air Force Accommodation Medal for his 2012 through 2013 performance at the 71st APS. His two sons, daughter and wife accepted the medal on his behalf.
The mood, although serious, was uplifting, said Col. Laura Radley, 512th Mission Support Group commander, who presided over the memorial ceremony.
“It was much more of a celebration of his spirit in the unit,” she said. “When people were able to remember about how (Isaac) brought everyone together in those instances, it became easier to accept he was still bringing the unit together, just now in a very different way.”
U.S. Air Force Airmen assigned to the 71st Aerial Port Squadron stand in formation during a memorial ceremony at Langley Air Force Base, Va., May 14, 2016. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. R. Alex Durbin)
Isaac’s family and friends thanked the squadron members more than once, said Chief Master Sgt. Paul Carter, 71st APS chief enlisted manager.
One of Gervasio’s sons, Vincent, ran in front of the formation, next to the gideon bearer, for the full one-mile run.
“As the formation rounded that last corner at the end of the run, it was apparent that Tech. Sgt. Gervasio will always be with the 71st APS,” added Radley. “To highlight their unit and efforts to honor the fallen – it was awesome to see.”