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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Lt Col Sierra Burgess - Class of 2000 , CS-21

Deceased on March 26, 2021 - Informed on March 29, 2021

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. Services will be held on 2 Apr 2021 at 10:00 am at the Hurlburt Field Air Park; 315 Independence Road; Hurlburt Field, FL 32544. He will be laid to rest at the USAFA Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Special Operations Warrior Foundation; https://specialops.org.

Lt Gen (Ret) Anthony Burshnick - Class of 1960 , CS-04

Deceased on August 17, 2021 - Informed on August 24, 2021

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. A funeral mass will be held on 25 Sep 2021at 1200 hours at St. Bernadette Catholic Church; 7600 Old Keene Mill Rd; Springfield, VA 22152. Burial will be in the USAFA Cemetery on a later date still to be determined. His family has suggested that memorial donations be made to the Alzheimer's Association; PO Box 96011; Washington, DC 20091-6011; (800) 272-3900; www.alz.org. An online obituary is not currently available.

1st Lt Kyle Campbell - Class of 2018 , CS-21

Deceased on March 12, 2021 - Informed on April 13, 2021

Please contact the Association of graduates for condolence information. A memorial service will be held on 17 Apr 2021 at 1000 hours at the Thunderbirds Hangar; 4445 Tyndall Ave; Nellis AFB, NV 89191-6079. If you plan to attend the service please RSVP to Alane.schwartz.1@us.af.mil (609) 321-2483 or Richard.Rodriguez.42@us.af.mil (201) 233-9993. The service will also be live-streamed at <https://youtu.be/FnQJe2_lxiM> .

Dr. Michael Cannon - Class of 1970 , CS-27

Deceased on February 26, 2012 - Informed on June 11, 2012

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. Services were held on 3 March 2012 in Union, OR. Memorial contributions may be made to the Doernbecher Children's Hospital Foundation; 1121 SW Salmon St Ste 100; Portland, OR 97205-2021 or online at www.ohsu.edu/about/dchf/help/default.cfm (800) 800-9583.

Mr. Joe Carpenter , Jr. - Class of 1978 , CS-10

Deceased on June 20, 2021 - Informed on June 29, 2021

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. A Celebration of life will be held on 3 Jul 2021 at 2:00 pm at the Gilbert Presbyterian Church; 235 East Guadalupe Road; Gilbert, AZ 85234.

Maj (Ret) John Carter - Class of 1983 , CS-11

Deceased on October 9, 2020 - Informed on December 3, 2020

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. Services are pending for the summer of 2021. His obituary may be seen here: https://www.centralmaine.com/2020/12/02/obituaryjohn-bernhard-carter/

Maj Gen (Ret) Frank Casserino , Jr. - Class of 1977 , CS-34

Deceased on January 4, 2021 - Informed on January 7, 2021

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. A graveside service will be held on 15 Jan 2021 at approx 1445 at the USAFA Cemetery. His obituary can be found at https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/colorado-springs-co/frank-casserino-9986569. His family has suggested that memorial donations be made in lieu of flowers to the Officers' Christian Fellowship; 3784 S Inca St; Englewood, CO 80110 or online at https://give.ministrylinq.com/app/giving/ocfusagive.

Maj Paul Comeau - Class of 1990 , CS-39

Deceased on November 12, 2007 - Informed on November 29, 2007

Memorial Services: November 29, 2007, 11:00 a.m., St Pius Catholic Church, Portland OR. Memoiral Donations: Doernbecher Children's Hospital Foundation, 1121 SW Salmon St Ste 201, Portland OR 97205-2021, (503) 294-7101, http://www.ohsu.edu/health/clinics-and-services/doernbecher/index.cfm or Catholic Charities Portland, 231 SE 12th Ave Portland OR 97214-1342, ww.catholiccharitiesoregon.org.

Col (Ret) David Cooksey - Class of 1989 , CS-31

Deceased on May 14, 2021 - Informed on May 19, 2021

Please contact the Association of Graduates for condolence information. A Memorial and Celebration of Life will be held on 22 May 2021 at 4:00 pm, at the Bayside Community Dock; 951 Bayside Bluff Road; Jacksonville, FL 32259. In lieu of flowers donations may be sent online to the "Bayside Wounded Warrior Fund";https://support.woundedwarriorproject.org/. any checks for donations may be mailed to the following; Bayside Wounded Warrior Fund, LLC; Attn: Andrew Wilfong; 1048 Anchor Road; St Johns, FL 32259.

Col (Ret) Kenneth Coon - Class of 1982 , CS-07

Deceased on April 22, 2021 - Informed on April 29, 2021

Please contact the association of Graduates for condolence information. A funeral service will be held on 8 May 2021 at 1030 hours at the Countryside Baptist Church; 2124 S Western Rd; Stillwater, OK 74074; (405) 372-2023. The service will be live streamed from his obituary page at Strode Funeral Home https://strodefh.com/book-of-memories/4600607/Coon-Col-Retired-Ken/index.php. Look under his picture for Photos and Videos for the link. His family has suggested that memorial donations be made in lieu of flowers to the Tasia Blue Rescue at www.TasiaBlue.com or To the Fisher House Foundation at www.fisherhouse.org. Checks to either organization may be sent in care of the Strode Funeral Home; 610 S Duncan St; Stillwater, OK 74074.

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Next of Kin

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Here’s A Toast: Gone But Not Forgotten annual publication

The Association of Graduates and Air Force Academy Foundation has introduced a new benefit to better memorialize USAFA graduates and support their families.

Gone But Not Forgotten, which appeared in Checkpoints magazine for decades, has transitioned to a dedicated, annual publication. The inaugural edition of Here’s A Toast: Gone But Not Forgotten published in March 2025.

A: As the Academy’s graduate population ages, Checkpoints has become increasingly insufficient in accommodating the growing number of submitted memorial articles.
A: The new Here’s A Toast: Gone But Not Forgotten publication honors the Long Blue Line by sharing the personal stories of graduates, cadets, Air Training Officers and AOG Honorary Members. It reflects our mission to support the Academy, serve graduates and preserve the heritage of the institution and Long Blue Line.
A: We considered several cost-effective, impactful options and consulted with our peers at the U.S. Military Academy and the U.S. Naval Academy. West Point’s TAPS publication provided an excellent model for this new publication.
A: One complimentary copy is provided to a loved one of the deceased memorialized in the publication. Additional printed copies are available for a nominal fee of $25 each. The digital version is available at no cost to all AOG members.
A: AOG members can access the digital issue at usafa.org. If you are not a member but wish to join and access this benefit and others, membership is available at no cost to all USAFA graduates here.
A: Here’s A Toast: Gone But Not Forgotten is available for $25 here or by calling 719-472-0300. The fee supports providing one complimentary copy to families of those memorialized.
A: See below:
A: Past memorial articles printed in Checkpoints are available as a commemorative keepsake for $15 each. These keepsakes include the photo that ran with the tribute and are printed on sturdy paper, suitable for framing. Articles come enclosed in a blue linen folder and can be ordered here or by calling 719-472-0300. Commemorative keepsake orders will ship or be available for pickup within two weeks of the order date.
A: See below:
A: A major benefit of transitioning to an annual publication is that 2025 memorial articles may run up to 800 words — double the current limit. In the 2026 Here’s A Toast: Gone But Not Forgotten memorial publication — which will include deaths in 2025 — each article will be presented on its own full page.
A: Email a recent favorite photo of the deceased. The photo (head and shoulders, color preferred) should be emailed as a high-resolution .jpg. Low-resolution image submissions may be declined in favor of a cadet yearbook photo.
A: Submit a memorial article and photo through a form at usafanextofkin.org or email deceasednotifications@usafa.org.
A: One of the major benefits of transitioning to a dedicated, annual publication is that memorial articles can now be up to 800 words. In the 2026 Here’s A Toast: Gone But Not Forgotten memorial publication — which will include deaths in 2025 — each article will be presented on its own full page.
A: Memorial articles for deaths in 2025 should be emailed when ready to ensure the Association and Foundation can post the tribute on usafa.org/heritage/gbnf.
A: The last issue memorial articles appeared in Checkpoints was in December 2024, but death notices will continue to be published in Checkpoints.
A: Death notices will be printed in each issue of Checkpoints.
A: See below:
A: Memorial articles for deaths in 2025 will be printed around March 2026.
A: Call 719-472-0300 or email Terri Davis, next-of-kin support specialist, at deceasednotifications@usafa.org.

Gone But Not Forgotten