Memorial Day

For too many people, Memorial Day is just one more holiday on the calendar, a day off from work and a time for sales and barbecues. But Memorial Day means so much more - a day to remember the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of America's freedom.

At the American Airpower Museum, this is never forgotten. This year, the museum honored seven CIA officers who were killed by a suicide bomber in Afghanistan in December 2009. This was a rare event - the CIA doesn't hold public memorials to their personnel killed in action, in fact many remain anonymous due to the nature of their work. To mark this unusual memorial, Michael Sulick, Director of the National Clandestine Service of the CIA, spoke at the service.

AAM's Gary Lewi prepares for a live remote for the morning news.


Congressman Steve Israel, a long-time supporter of the museum, helped arrange the tribute.


Major Scott Clyman, Air Force Reserve F-16 pilot and museum trustee, presents a flag to Michael Sulick. Clyman carried the flag during a mission in support of the attack on the CIA employees in Afghanistan.


At the conclusion of the memorial service, B-17 Yankee Lady, escorted by museum aircraft, flew Director Sulick and others over the Statue of Liberty, where they dropped roses in honor of the CIA officers.