Vosler NCO Academy helps honor its namesake Published July 18, 2007 By Corey Dahl 21st Space Wing Public Affairs PETERSON AFB, Colo. -- The Forrest L. Vosler Noncommissioned Officer Academy here shares more than just a name with a new park in upstate New York. The Forrest L. Vosler Veterans Memorial Park, which opened June 16 in Livonia, N.Y., was partially financed by the school's instructors and students, who purchased and engraved dozens of brick pavers to help raise funds for the site. The school also helped officials in Livonia, where Tech. Sgt. Vosler was born and raised, gather photos and facts for the park's information kiosk. Two instructors from the VNCOA here flew out to the small village to assist with the park's dedication. "They contacted us about it about a year, a year and a half ago, just wanting help finding historical information," said Master Sgt. Chris Vossmer, one of the instructors who helped dedicate the memorial. "From there, it just really developed into something we wanted to support because we share a namesake and a history." Sergeant Vosler is one of just six enlisted Airmen to receive the Medal of Honor. He earned the award for his actions during a World War II bombing mission in 1943, when he was only 20 years old. On a mission over Germany, Sergeant Vosler's plane came under enemy fire, injuring him as well as the rest of the plane's crew. Though nearly blind and passing in and out of consciousness, Sergeant Vosler took over for his plane's wounded tail gunner and, later, as the pilot prepared to ditch the plane into the sea, radioed a distress signal. Once the plane crashed, Sergeant Vosler pulled himself and the wounded tail gunner onto the wing of the plane, where they were later rescued by a dinghy. Sergeant Vosler died in 1992 and was memorialized later that year when Peterson's Airman Leadership School was renamed in his honor. Colorado being thousands of miles from Sergeant Vosler's home state of New York, residents of Livonia decided to build their own memorial to the war hero. Town residents and Vosler's family and friends raised roughly $100,000 to finance the park, selling engraved pavestones and collecting donations. Peterson's NCO academy did its part by purchasing pavers for all its guest speakers instead of the traditional gift. Classes and instructors also got in on the act, buying stones to commemorate graduations or other celebrations. By the time the memorial opened, many of the site's more than 200 stones came from Peterson. "Every time you went around the memorial, you were seeing VNCOA, VNCOA," Sergeant Vossmer said. But the best part, Sergeant Vossmer said, was being able to participate in the park's opening. There, Sergeant Vossmer and Master Sgt. Richard Ruotolo raised the first flag to fly over the memorial, and met with Sergeant Vosler's friends, family and even the tail gunner Sergeant Vosler saved. "It was nice to get the personal part of it, because all I've ever known was the six lines in our promotional material," said Sergeant Vossmer. "And, just seeing the outpouring from the community, it really sank in the scope of people that he had touched." Sergeants Vossmer and Ruotolo said they're both glad the school was able to be a part of something that will preserve a slice of Air Force history for years to come. To help with the park's upkeep, the academy will also continue to purchase pavestones for its guest speakers, they said. "What really sticks with me is that it's there for all eternity now," Sergeant Ruotolo said. "Every time someone comes by there, they'll be able to see it and learn what he was all about." The Forrest L. Vosler Veterans Memorial Park is still selling engraved pavestones for the park as well as accepting donations for future upkeep. To learn how to contribute, call (585) 346-3100. Comment on this story.