Gone But Not Forgotten

Honoring fallen comrades is an important part of the AOG mission and we ask to be notified as soon as possible of the death of any graduate, Air Training Officer or cadet so that we can take appropriate actions. The AOG has learned of the following deaths within the past 90 days.

For best results, try searching by Last Name (e.g. Smith), Class Year (e.g. 1959), or Cadet Squadron (e.g. CS-01). More complex searches may not return desired results.

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Mr. Stephen Armstrong - Class of 1988, CS-34

Deceased on January 22, 2021 - Informed on February 1, 2021

Please contact the Asssociation of Graduates for condolence information. A funeral service was held on 30 Jan 2021 at the Verse by Verse Fellowship in San Antonio, TX.

Mr. Scott Banks - Class of 1991, CS-03

Deceased on February 27, 2021 - Informed on March 2, 2021

Please ontact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. A funeral service and interment will be held on 17 July 2021 at 1000 hours at the USAFA Cemetery. A reception will follow at the USAFA Eisenhower Golf Course. Please RSVP to JuggieA10@gmail.com. For those wishing to attend the service, and do not posess a Military or DoD ID card, please provide the following information with your RSVP: Full name as stated on your driver's license, date of birth (mm/dd/yyyy), Driver's License number and state of issue.

Col (Ret) James Bannwart - Class of 1967, CS-12

Deceased on February 20, 2020 - Informed on March 4, 2021

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. Colonel Bannwart passed away a year ago on 20 Feb 2020. Burial in Arlington National Cemetery is scheduled for 26 Mar 2021 at 1300 hours. His obituary can be found at https://www.rader-funeralhome.com/tributes/James-Bannwart. Colonel Bannwart requested no flowers or memorial contributions, but a toast to fond memories in his honor.

Maj (Ret) George Barnes - Class of 1963, CS-14

Deceased on February 9, 2021 - Informed on February 10, 2021

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. A funeral service will be held on 19 Mar 2021 at 1100 hours at the USAFA Cemetery. In the event of inclement weather, the service will be moved to the Memorial Pavilion. George's obituary can be found at https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/orlando-fl/george-barnes-10053601.

Mr. Paul Beck - Class of 1978, CS-37

Deceased on September 12, 2021 - Informed on November 30, 2021

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. A celebration of life was held in Topeka, KS on 3 Oct 2021. He will be inurned at the USAFA Cemetery Memorial Pavilion Columbarium on 11 July 2022 at 1030 hours.

Ms. Megan Beckett - Class of 1995, CS-02

Deceased on August 1, 2021 - Informed on August 9, 2021

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. A memorial service will be held on 21 Aug 2021 at 1700 hours at the Faith Lutheran Middle School and High School; 2015 S Hualapai Way; Las Vegas, NV 89117. Her family has suggested that memorial donations be made in lieu of flowers to the Susan G. Komen Foundation; 13770 Noel Rd, Suite 801889; Dallas, TX 75380; (877) GOKOMEN (465-6636); www.komen.org.

Mr. Michael Benevento - Class of 1984, CS-33

Deceased on June 5, 2021 - Informed on June 11, 2021

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. A memorial service will be held on 12 Jun 2021 at 11:00 am at the St. Lawrence Catholic Church; 158 West Street; Essex Junction, VT 05452; (802) 878-5331; www.hfslvt.org. Followed by a reception at the American Legion Post; 3650 Roosevelt Hwy; Colchester, VT 05446; (802) 872-7633; www.mylegion.org. In lieu of flowers the family has suggested that a donation be made in his memory to any local Little League.

Mr. Jon Box - Class of 1979, CS-36

Deceased on March 15, 2021 - Informed on April 13, 2021

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. A funeral service was held on 20 Mar 2021 at Twickenham Church of Christ in Huntsville, AL. His family has suggested that memorial donations be made in lieu of flowers to His Way, Inc., a faith based addiction recovery program. Donations may be made online at https://hiswayinc.org/ways-to-give/

Dr. Ronald Bracy - Class of 1966, CS-19

Deceased on August 11, 2021 - Informed on August 24, 2021

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. A funeral service will be held on 2 Sep 2021 at 1100 hours at the Parkhills Baptist Church; 17747 San Pedro Ave; San Antonio, TX 78232. Burial will follow at 1400 hours at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery; 1520 Wurzbach Rd; San Antonio, TX 78209. Arrangements are being handled by Porter Loring Mortuary; www.porterloring.com.

Mr. James Bujalski - Class of 1960, CS-05

Deceased on May 28, 2021 - Informed on June 4, 2021

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. Burial will be at USAFA on 9 Jul 2021, at 1300 hours, in the Memorial Pavilion followed by inurnment in the USAFA Cemetery.

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Next of Kin

For Next of Kin support resources please visit: https://www.usafanextofkin.org/

Frequently Asked Questions

Gone But Not Forgotten Annual Publication

The Air Force Academy Association and Foundation are introducing a new benefit to better memorialize USAFA graduates and support their families. We are launching a new annual memorial publication in 2025.

A: As the Academy graduate population ages, Checkpoints is increasingly insufficient in accommodating the increasing number of obituaries. This has necessitated the creation of a new publication as part of our commitment to remembering all fallen graduates, Air Training Officers and cadets.
A: The purpose of the publication is to honor and perpetuate the legacy of the Long Blue Line through the personal stories of our graduates. The publication is in the spirit of our mission to support the Academy, serve graduates and preserve the heritage of the institution.
A: Gone But Not Forgotten will be part of the final name, which is not yet finalized.
A: No, but the Association will list basic information on deaths in each issue of Checkpoints.
A: No. If/when memorial articles are sent to the AOG, the tribute is posted to this webpage.
A: A complimentary copy will be mailed to a loved one of the deceased. It is not yet determined if the printed publication will be available at a nominal cost or at no cost to AOG members.
A: There will be a one-year transition period. Memorial articles sent in to run in Checkpoints in 2024 will also appear in the inaugural memorial publication. The deadline for Gone But Not Forgotten submissions in the December 2024 issue of Checkpoints is mid-October, but any memorial articles about deaths for the remainder of 2024 received by mid-January 2025 will appear in the inaugural 2025 stand-alone publication. Then going forward, the full years’ worth of tributes would be published in the next year’s volume.
A: The first memorial publication will likely be printed in February or March of 2025.
A: We currently have a 400-word maximum for each memorial tribute and will continue with that limit for the first stand-alone publication. We’re doing this because we have already received submissions at that length and don’t plan to ask for longer versions for the 2025 edition.
A: We will transition to roughly 450- or 900-word options for memorial tributes. Whoever writes and submits the memorial article with have the option to write to either word limit.
A: A recent favorite photo of the deceased, when possible. The photo (head and shoulders, color preferred) should be emailed as a .jpg and sent as a high-resolution image.
A: Please email Next-of-Kin Support Specialist Terri Davis at deceasednotifications@usafa.org.
A: That is coming soon.
A: Please reach out to David Bitton, assistant director of strategic communications and publications, at 719-247-8745 or use our Contact Form.

Gone But Not Forgotten