Post by Don Gieseke on Jan 1, 2012 14:42:55 GMT -6
From: TERESA DELAFOSSE <tadelafosse@gmail.com>
Date: January 1, 2012 2:30:53 PM EST
Subject: John Delafosse at Kill Devil Hills, NC
Dear Friends,
Our family was given a remarkable gift to honor John. Dwight Rice, the owner of 868J, sent his jet to take John's daughters, their husbands, and me to Kill Devil Hills, NC on Saturday, December 17, to scatter John's ashes. As many of you know, Dec. 17 marks the anniversary of flight, a day of note in our household. The Wright Brothers Memorial was one of John's favorite and oft-visited shrines.
Dwight felt it was fitting that John's ashes be carried on the last jet he flew professionally, a Citation Excel, and Dwight and the flight crew, Shane Williams and Jeremy Gooch, made it a precious and memorable day. I am attaching a link to a slideshow of photos John's daughter, Lindsey, made that day.
The opening shots are of a special and yes, heartbreaking, gesture arranged by the crew. As we taxied down the tarmac in SAV, firefighters positioned two fire engines to give John the honor of a water cannon salute and three other firefighters snapped to attention as we entered the stream of water. John's ashes lay boxed in a backpack at my feet, but all I could think about through my tears was, "John would have LOVED this" and I could absolutely imagine him sitting across from me, laughing with delight.
The day at Kill Devil Hills was cold, overcast, windy and uncrowded. Perfect for us. As we walked the length of the Wright brothers' very first flight line, aircraft began flying overhead in beautiful formation. Of course, it was a celebration of the 108th anniversary of flight, but we felt it was also a tribute to our own sweet aviator, John Delafosse. As T-6's, a T-28, and the rare C-54 "Candy Bomber" roared above us, we opened John's ashes and let the wind carry them into the sky: John's home, his love.
It was a precious and memorable farewell to a fine man. John's legacy was a deep and happy one and as we face our bereavement, we are reminded of all the lives he touched, all the souls he carried safely, all the kindness and humor which he shared with so many.
Thank you all for your kind words, your phone calls and emails. We hope you enjoy this final tribute.
youtu.be/tJLgZKKZT5o
Love,
Teresa Delafosse
Malissa and Rob Albright
Lindsey and Chris Turnau
Date: January 1, 2012 2:30:53 PM EST
Subject: John Delafosse at Kill Devil Hills, NC
Dear Friends,
Our family was given a remarkable gift to honor John. Dwight Rice, the owner of 868J, sent his jet to take John's daughters, their husbands, and me to Kill Devil Hills, NC on Saturday, December 17, to scatter John's ashes. As many of you know, Dec. 17 marks the anniversary of flight, a day of note in our household. The Wright Brothers Memorial was one of John's favorite and oft-visited shrines.
Dwight felt it was fitting that John's ashes be carried on the last jet he flew professionally, a Citation Excel, and Dwight and the flight crew, Shane Williams and Jeremy Gooch, made it a precious and memorable day. I am attaching a link to a slideshow of photos John's daughter, Lindsey, made that day.
The opening shots are of a special and yes, heartbreaking, gesture arranged by the crew. As we taxied down the tarmac in SAV, firefighters positioned two fire engines to give John the honor of a water cannon salute and three other firefighters snapped to attention as we entered the stream of water. John's ashes lay boxed in a backpack at my feet, but all I could think about through my tears was, "John would have LOVED this" and I could absolutely imagine him sitting across from me, laughing with delight.
The day at Kill Devil Hills was cold, overcast, windy and uncrowded. Perfect for us. As we walked the length of the Wright brothers' very first flight line, aircraft began flying overhead in beautiful formation. Of course, it was a celebration of the 108th anniversary of flight, but we felt it was also a tribute to our own sweet aviator, John Delafosse. As T-6's, a T-28, and the rare C-54 "Candy Bomber" roared above us, we opened John's ashes and let the wind carry them into the sky: John's home, his love.
It was a precious and memorable farewell to a fine man. John's legacy was a deep and happy one and as we face our bereavement, we are reminded of all the lives he touched, all the souls he carried safely, all the kindness and humor which he shared with so many.
Thank you all for your kind words, your phone calls and emails. We hope you enjoy this final tribute.
youtu.be/tJLgZKKZT5o
Love,
Teresa Delafosse
Malissa and Rob Albright
Lindsey and Chris Turnau