Tribute To One Of Flight 93's Heroes

As a tribute to LeRoy W. Homer Jr., the 45th Space Wing will be launching the Titan IVB rocket from the Space Launch Complex at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. "I am grateful LeRoy was chosen for such a distinguished honor," said Melodie Homer, LeRoy's widow and president of The LeRoy W. Homer Jr. Foundation. The mission is scheduled for Monday, August 18, 2003.

On September 11, 2001, LeRoy was flying, with Captain Jason Dahl, Flight 93, which was hijacked and crashed in Shanksville, PA. The LeRoy W. Homer Jr. Foundation was established to honor LeRoy Homer's love of flying. The Foundation will award up to three scholarships each year to young adults interested in pursuing aviation, allowing them to receive private pilot certification. The 2003 scholarship recipients were Richard Valenta, Sarah Lemmer, and Michael Scott.

Richard Valenta, a 16-year-old from Spring (TX), hopes to attend the United States Naval Academy. Since receiving the award, Richard's enthusiasm has been overwhelming. In two months he completed all requirements necessary to attain a private pilot license and is planning on taking his check ride this month on his 17th birthday. Sarah Lemmer is pursuing a B.S. in Aviation from San Jose State University. She has completed 25 hours of flight training and has successfully flown "solo." Michael Scott began his flight training in late June after attending a summer camp with the United States Naval Academy. He has completed 11 hours of flight training. "We are extremely proud of the award recipients," said Steven Scheri, Vice President of the Foundation. "Our winners exemplify all-around excellence in scholastic achievement, leadership, aviation involvement and enthusiasm."

Recent controversy regarding the FBI congressional report was not a surprise for Melodie Homer. "I chose not to speculate. How we choose to remember things is often different from the way they actually happened." She maintains the FBI has no reason to mislead the families with this report, and it substantiates information given to her prior to recovery of the CVR. "Whether or not they were able to take control of the plane is irrelevant to the intended act of heroism."

"LeRoy was born a hero, not made one on September 11th," said Brodrick Thorpe, LeRoy's brother-in-law, who plans to attend the launch this weekend. LeRoy Homer graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1987. As an Air Force Captain, he flew the C-141 Starlifter out of McGuire AFB in New Jersey. While on active duty, he served in Desert Shield and Desert Storm. He was honorably discharged from the Air Force in 1995, and continued his military career as a reservist, during which time he achieved the rank of Major.

FMI: www.leroywhomerjr.com