TodayRescued pilot to speak for Memorial Day
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Article RatingMichael Durant, pilot of a Black Hawk helicopter shot down Oct. 3, 1993 in Mogadishu, Somalia, will speak May 29 at Newville’s Memorial Day ceremonies.
The ceremonies will honor the late Sgt. 1st Class Randall D. Shughart, posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for helping save Durant’s life during a fierce battle in which Shughart lost his own life after running out of ammunition.
Gov. Ed Rendell also could speak at the ceremony to name Newville’s Post Office building in honor of Shughart, although the governor’s press office said it cannot confirm his schedule before May 26.
The ceremony is being conducted by Chi Gamma Iota, the XGI fraternity of Penn State Harrisburg which worked to rename the post office in Shughart’s hometown.
Black Hawk helicopters will land in a ballfield directly across from the post office to begin the ceremony which follows the annual 1 p.m. Memorial Day parade.
Col. Lee Van Arsdale, Shughart’s former Delta Force squadron commander, also will speak. Former Special Forces soldiers who served with Shughart are expected to attend to pay their respect to their former comrade. Also attending will be retired Maj. Gen. William Garrison, former commanding general, U.S. Army Special Operations Command.
Durant was captured and held prisoner for 11 days in Mogadishu, and his story was the inspiration behind the movie "Black Hawk Down."
The movie will be shown free of charge at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. May 28 at Big Spring Area Community Center, 2 Chestnut St., Newville.
Because of the expected size of the parade, it will line up at Newville Fairgrounds and will march down Broad Street to Walnut Street, turn onto Big Spring Avenue, proceed to South High Street and end at Main Street.
