Columbus为阵亡空军军士长 Tyler Simmons 立路牌:母校 Eastmoor 外揭牌,市长宣布10月20日为纪念日

位于俄亥俄州富兰克林县的 Columbus 市,市政府与 Columbus 市学区10月20日与阵亡军人 Tyler Simmons 的家人共同举行仪式,在 Eastmoor Academy 高中外揭幕纪念路牌「Master Sergeant Tyler Simmons Way」,路牌设在学校附近 Weyant 大道与 Plymouth 大道交口。市长 Andrew Ginther 同时向其家人颁发表彰文告,宣布10月20日为 Columbus 的「Tyler Simmons 军士长日」。数百名支持者、前教师与 Eastmoor 学生出席了仪式。
Simmons 现年28岁,是 Columbus 本地人、Columbus 市学区毕业生,生前为俄亥俄州空军国民警卫队第121空中加油联队的加油操作员。今年3月,两架 KC-135 加油机在伊拉克西部执行「史诗之怒行动」(Operation Epic Fury)任务期间坠毁,Simmons 与另外五名军人一同殉职。
其父 Mylo Simmons 在仪式上说,人群「不是因为 Tyler 死了才来,而是因为他活过」。他说儿子是他和妻子「最大的礼物与喜悦」,希望 Eastmoor Academy 的学生能从 Tyler 的人生中获得激励:「一代代从未有幸认识我们儿子的人会看到他的名字,或许会驻足片刻。当你经过这块路牌时,希望你记住的不只是一位阵亡美国英雄的名字,更是一个在 Columbus 长大、怀揣远大梦想的小男孩。」(据 The Columbus Dispatch 10月20日报道整理)
Columbus Honors Fallen Airman Tyler Simmons With Street Sign Outside Eastmoor Academy: Mayor Proclaims October 20 as Master Sergeant Tyler Simmons Day
The City of Columbus, in Franklin County, Ohio, joined Columbus City Schools and the family of fallen airman Tyler Simmons on October 20 to unveil a commemorative street sign, "Master Sergeant Tyler Simmons Way," at the intersection of Weyant and Plymouth avenues near Eastmoor Academy High School. Mayor Andrew Ginther also issued the family a proclamation announcing that October 20 would be Master Sergeant Tyler Simmons Day in Columbus. Hundreds of supporters, former teachers and Eastmoor students attended the event.
Simmons, 28, was a Columbus native and Columbus City Schools graduate who served as a boom operator with the Ohio Air National Guard's 121st Air Refueling Wing. He was among six service members killed in March when two KC-135 tanker airplanes crashed in western Iraq while participating in an "Operation Epic Fury" mission.
His father, Mylo Simmons, said at the ceremony that the crowd "wasn't there because Tyler died" but "because he lived," calling his son "the greatest gift and joy" he and his mother have ever had, and hoping Eastmoor Academy students find inspiration in Tyler's legacy. "Generations of people who may have never had the privilege of knowing our son will see his name, and perhaps they will pause," he said. "And when you pass the sign, we hope you will remember more than the name of a fallen American hero. Remember a little boy who grew up in Columbus with big dreams." (Compiled from The Columbus Dispatch, October 20)
来源:GSM·美国(原文链接)
图片来源:Columbus 市中心实景(Main Street 桥视角)。图片来源:Wikimedia Commons 文件 Downtown Columbus View from Main St Bridge - edit1.jpg,Paul Wasneski 摄,Public domain(公有领域) 授权
GSM Global · 本篇英文版 English edition of this story

