Page 3 - Aerotech News and Review, November 5, 2021

Honor and respect for an ally

by Bob Alvis
special to Aerotech News
Tragedy can happen at any time and any place. Just over a year ago that’s
just what happened when two visitors who called our Valley home were
tragically lost in an accident that shook the many that served and worked
with them at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., on the JSF F-35 Lightning II
program.
Cpl. Sean Cooper and his wife Lucy were here in the Antelope Valley, on
assignment from the United Kingdom, with the Royal Air Force’s No. 17
Squadron at Edwards — the fight test team developing the F-35B for use
with the Royal Air Force and Navy.
On a recent Friday morning, under beautiful skies here in the Antelope
Valley, a special program was presented that paid tribute to the two fallen
as the Royal Air Force detachment, along with the Royal Navy detachment,
turned out in number for a very special unveiling of a memorial plaque. The
plaque was made possible with the cooperation of the Lancaster Cemeteries
Friends of Lancaster Cemetery, and the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy
personnel at Edwards.
Dayle Debry and Karla Archuleta, working with RAF Wg. Cmdr. Adam
Curd, put forth a remembrance program that honored Sean and Lucy and gave
them a place in our community, so that generations in the future will always
know that they were our neighbors and a valued part of our community.
Words cannot tell of the amazing sights and sounds as our two nations
came together. Flt. Sgt. Christopher Harker called out orders to begin the
parade with the Navy and Air Force flights, marching from the east and west,
met at parade ground center in a display of precision marching in the best
tradition of the British military.
When the two flights came together, Harker called for the presentation of
colors and the U.S. Air Force Color Guard from Edwards marched to parade
center. In a sight that moved this soul, the British Flag took its place between
the U.S. Flag and that of the U.S. Air Force.
With Curd, and Navy Warrant Officer Anthony Fisher marching to the po-
dium, in front of the monument to our World War II service men and women,
they took their place in front of the colors of their country and service and
paid respects to the fallen that touched the hearts of everyone in attendance.
The words of United States reserve Chaplin (Maj.) Kenneth Valardi re-
minded us of all of the gift of life beyond this world and gave us the comfort
of knowing that we will one day be reunited, and the tears erased.
Curd shared many aspects of the young corporal and his wife, and the
impact they had on squadron morale and our local community. It was shared Photographs by Bob Alvis
that Lucy was a lover of animals and was working for a local veterinarian at Above: The Honor Guard from Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.,
the time of her death and that Sean and she had a special family dog named alongside formations from the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy,
Coops that was always by their sides as that beloved family pet. On the night were on hand for the ceremony to honor and remember Cpl. Sean
of their passing and as Sean was in the hospital, the RAF and Navy lined the and Lucy Cooper. Right: A memorial plaque honoring Cpl. Sean
halls of the hospital and one member of the detachment snuck in Coops for and Lucy Cooper is unveiled at the Lancaster Cemetery.
one last moment to say goodbye. Some things are universal and even in the
military world, there comes that moment when the simple love of a pet and
a pet’s love for its owner transcends the tragedies of everyday life.
Sean and Lucy were taken back home to be laid to rest in the green fields
and hills of their beloved England. We here in America mourn the loss felt
by their families and those that worked and served with them and pray that
peace finds the hearts of all those who were touched by their lives. May it
be a bit of comfort to those so far away that we here in the Antelope Valley
will always remember the names we see on this remembrance in the Veterans
Court of Honor, where their memories will be cared for by future generations.
It gives us here in the Antelope Valley and the United States some peace of
mind to know that Sean and Lucy’s beloved Coops is at home with their fam-
ily in England and passing along the love to those who lost their loved ones.
A very special day at Lancaster Cemetery and a moment in time when we
realize how close two nations can be, when the respect for our fallen and the
sadness that follows is felt by all those who realize how fragile life is and
that together, we
find our strength to
carry on.
Sean and Lucy
Cooper are now a
permanent part of
our history, and we
were blessed with
your time among Above: RAF Wg. Cmdr. Adam Curd speaks at the ceremony to
us. We wish we honor and remember Cpl. Sean and Lucy Cooper. Left: Attendees
could have had at the ceremony pay their respects to Cpl. Sean and Lucy Cooper.
more. May God
Bless.

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