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Downed B-52 aircrew re-memorialized during ceremony

Col. Brian McDaniel, 92nd Air Refueling Wing commander, salutes while taps is played during a rededication memorial ceremony for Capt. Donovan Walters Oct. 15, 2015 at Medical Lake High School in Medical Lake, Wash. The Jonas Babcock Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, sponsored the event which replaced the stolen faceplate with a recessed granite plate, in hopes that this will be the final re-dedication of the memorial. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Taylor Bourgeous)

Downed B-52 aircrew re-memorialized during ceremony

To the right of Medical Lake High School’s main entrance, stands a giant blue spruce tree and a granite memorial for Capt. Donovan K. Walters, United States Air Force, missing in action. A rededication ceremony was held Oct. 15, 2015, at Medical Lake High School in Medical Lake, Wash. to unveil the new plaque, Col. Brian McDaniel, 92nd Air Refueling Wing commander, Chief Master Sgt. Christian Pugh, 92nd ARW command chief, Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers, U.S. Representative for Washington's 5th congressional district and Lt. Col. (ret.) Lynn Beens, U.S. Air Force, were in attendance during the event. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Taylor Bourgeous)

Downed B-52 aircrew re-memorialized during ceremony

Christine Walters Chrispen, Capt. Donovan Walters’ daughter, receives a folded American flag from Col. Brian McDaniel, 92nd Air Refueling Wing commander, during a memorial rededication ceremony Oct. 15, 2015, at Medical Lake High School in Medical Lake, Wash. The ceremony was held to replace a brass faceplate that was stolen from the memorial. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Taylor Bourgeous)

Downed B-52 aircrew re-memorialized during ceremony

Published Oct. 15, 2015
By Airman 1st Class Taylor Bourgeous
92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- To the right of Medical Lake High School's main entrance stands a giant blue spruce tree, part of a memorial for Capt. Donovan K. Walters, United States Air Force, missing in action. A rededication ceremony was held Oct. 15, to replace a brass faceplate that was stolen from the stone portion of the memorial.

The tree, which stands over 20 feet tall, was planted and a wooden cross erected in 1974 as a memorial for Walters. The tree was rededicated in 1995, when a large rock from Silver Lake was placed where a wooden cross, that had since deteriorated, once stood.

Walters lived in Medical Lake with his family the year he died. He was one of seven crew members aboard the Olive 1, a B-52G stratofortress, the one plane assigned to Fairchild that was lost in Vietnam. During a nighttime raid on Hanoi, Olive 1 was hit by enemy fire and exploded in flames.

Three members of the crew who survived the crash were captured and became prisoners of war, one of whom died while in captivity. Sixteen years later, remains of the other four crew members were recovered and returned to the U.S.

In 2008, the faceplate on the memorial was scratched, marred and barely readable, and was replaced, again, by the American Legion Post 196 and the Medical Lake Air Force Junior ROTC. However, that new brass plate was stolen and left the rock with several holes.

Col. Brian McDaniel, 92nd Air Refueling Wing commander, Chief Master Sgt. Christian Pugh, 92nd ARW command chief, Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers, U.S. Representative for Washington's 5th congressional district, and Lt. Col. (ret.) Lynn Beens, U.S. Air Force, were in attendance during the rededication ceremony.

The Jonas Babcock Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, sponsored the event where the stolen faceplate was replaced with a recessed granite plate in hope that this will be the final re-dedication of the memorial.