CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. –– A radio and television host from Chattanooga, Tenn., will pilot a one-year anniversary memorial flight to Port Angeles on Saturday in honor of five military servicemen killed by a lone shooter in Chattanooga last year.
One year after the July 16, 2015, shootings, James Howard’s goal is to honor those who died and to thank Port Angeles residents for their support last year.
“What really touched me in a big, mighty way . . . a representative from Port Angeles flew here and presented condolences and signed banners from the people of Port Angeles,” he said. “It really put Port Angeles, Wash., on the map for me.
“I just knew somehow I was wanting to thank the people of Port Angeles.”
Last year at this time, Outside magazine hosted its annual “Best Town Ever” competition. Readers of the magazine voted Chattanooga “America’s Best Town of 2015” with Port Angeles coming in second place.
During the competition, residents in both cities were constantly debating who had the better city. That debate made it onto one of Howard’s shows.
“It was funny because we were kind of trash-talking, back and forth,” he said. “It was all out of fun, all poking fun at who had the best city.”
Howard thought that once the competition ended, it would be the last he heard of Port Angeles.
But shortly after the shooting deaths, Revitalize Port Angeles founder Leslie Robertson spearheaded an effort to collect signatures and messages of sympathy on banners and traveled to Chattanooga to present them to the Tennessee city.
Robertson and others, who had led a spirited effort to beat Chattanooga in Outside’s “Best Town Ever” online contest in May, turned to the mission to bring peace and sympathy to the larger city.
In Chattanooga, Robertson was taken to visit two public memorials to those who were killed and to the gravesites of a Marine and the sailor who were killed. She also met the father of the slain sailor.
Now Howard plans to thank Port Angeles for its support.
“We’re just excited to present the banner and to thank the people of Port Angeles and tell them thank you for keeping us Chattanooga-strong,” he said.
“You can’t do that alone. It’s neat that Port Angeles came alongside us.
“They were there through that pain and suffering of what our community faced.”
Howard will leave from Wilson Air Center at Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport at 6 a.m. Saturday flying a Cessna 172.
He will receive a military escort out of the city from two T-28 Trojans to honor the military men whose lives were lost.
The names of the five military servicemen will be marked on the Cessna 172.
Four Marines and a Navy logistics specialist were killed. They were Gunnery Sgt. Thomas Sullivan, Staff Sgt. David Wyatt, Lance Cpl. Skip “Squire” Wells, Sgt. Carson Holmquist and U.S. Navy Petty Officer Randall Smith.
The plane will be nicknamed “The Spirit of the Fallen Five” in honor of them.
When Howard lands Sunday evening, the plan is to present Port Angeles with a “thank you” banner signed by the Chattanooga City Council and hundreds of others.
After his mission in Port Angeles is complete, Howard aims to set his second speed record through the National Aeronautic Association on his return flight.
Howard plans to fly as nonstop as possible — only stopping to get fuel — and expects the trip to take about 15 hours.
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Reporter Jesse Major can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56250, or at jmajor@peninsuladailynews.com.