Today in Marana, a memorial service was held at Marana Regional Airport honoring the 19 Marines who lost their lives in a crash during a training mission on April 8, 2000.
During the training mission, an MV-22 Osprey Tilt rotor aircraft went down at Marana Regional Airport.
The 19 fallen Marines: Sgt. Jose Alvarez Lance Cpl. Jason T. Duke 2nd Lt. Clayton J. Kennedy Kenneth O. Paddio Cpl. Can Soler Pfc. Gabriel C. Clevenger Lance Cpl. Jesus Gonzalez Sanchez Lance Cpl. Jorge A. Morin Pfc. George P. Santos Pvt. Adam L. Tatro Pfc. Alfred Corona Lance Cpl. Seth G. Jones Cpl. Adam C. Neely Lance Cpl. Keoki P. Santos Cpl. Eric J. Martinez Maj. John A. Brow Maj. Brooks S. Gruber Cpl. Kelly S. Keith Staff Sgt. William B. Nelson
The service marking 24 years since the accident. Organizers said it was one of the largest attendance in recent years. One of those in attendance was Major Mark Davis.
I was doing an exercise. I was the operations officer in Yuma and this flight that the Marines died on was part of that exercise, Maj. Davis said.
Davis said attending the service was important to him to honor his Marine, Corporal Eric J. Martinez.
This is my first time seeing it, a really great turn out and just a really professional ceremony, Maj. Davis said. Really honors those fallen in a great way so I was really proud to see it all work out like that.
During the service each Marine was named and recognized one by one. Maj. Davis said he thinks Some of America may forget that we lose warriors in training as well, its not just combat. So memorializing these gentlemen every year thats how we remember them.
Mike Flynn is the National Vice Commandant of the Marine Corps League and was the emcee at the memorial service. He said they do everything they can to honor them.
Unfortunately we lose servicemen and women every year and this is our little piece thats close to home. We want to keep their memory alive, Flynn said.
Flynn hopes to have family members of the fallen Marines attend next years service for the 25th anniversary of the crash.