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        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders      The Doolittle Tokyo Raiders paid tribute to their memorial at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force Nov. 09, 2013 in Dayton, Ohio. The remaining raiders shared in their final toast, commemorating their historic mission and fallen wingmen.131109-F-QE915-008
                        
                        
                        The Doolittle Tokyo Raiders paid tribute to their memorial at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force Nov. 09, 2013 in Dayton, Ohio. The remaining raiders shared in their final toast, commemorating their historic mission and fallen wingmen.
                
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        Air Force Academy cadets lay a wreath during the Doolittle Tokyo Raiders memorial at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force Nov. 09, 2013 in Dayton, Ohio. The remaining Raiders paid tribute to their memorial and commemorated their historic mission and fallen wingmen during their final toast ceremony.131109-F-QE915-010
                        
                        
                        Air Force Academy cadets lay a wreath during the Doolittle Tokyo Raiders memorial at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force Nov. 09, 2013 in Dayton, Ohio. The remaining Raiders paid tribute to their memorial and commemorated their historic mission and fallen wingmen during their final toast ceremony.
                
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                        Download Hi-Res
        


        Veterans and the public line the streets of the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force with American flags and signs of support Nov. 09, 2013, during the Doolittle Toyko Raiders Memorial tribute in Dayton, Ohio. The tribute was held in honor of the last toast of the remaining Doolittle raiders.131109-F-QE915-001
                        
                        
                        Veterans and the public line the streets of the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force with American flags and signs of support Nov. 09, 2013, during the Doolittle Toyko Raiders Memorial tribute in Dayton, Ohio. The tribute was held in honor of the last toast of the remaining Doolittle raiders.
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res

Doolittle Raiders join memorial wreath-layingPublished Nov. 9, 2013
                    
                    By Desiree N. Palacios
                    
                    
                    Air Force News Service
            **WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio (AFNS) --**The remaining Doolittle Raiders gathered at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force Nov. 9 to partake in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Doolittle Raider memorial in Memorial Park here, followed by a flyover of B-25 aircraft.

The speakers of the memorial tribute include retired Lt. Col. Richard E. Cole, Acting Secretary of the Air Force Eric Fanning and Museum Director, retired Lt. Gen. Jack Hudson.

“The Doolittle Raiders are an example to all Americans and all Airmen,” Fanning said. “That even in our darkest days there are some among us who have the courage to step forward and say, ‘Send me.’We owe them our eternal respect and gratitude. Gentlemen, thank you for what you did for your country those many years ago, for representing all those who served with you and for being an inspiration to the rest of us everyday since then.”

Cole also spoke during the event.

“We all shared the same risk and had no realization of the positive effect on our effort and on the morale of the Americans at the time of great national peril," he said. "We are grateful we had the opportunity to serve and are mindful that our nation benefited from our service. Thank you for joining us today.”

The ceremony was attended by three of the four living Doolittle Tokyo Raiders: retired Lt. Col. Richard “Dick” E. Cole, the copilot of Aircraft No. 1; Lt. Col. Edward J. Saylor, the engineer-gunner of Aircraft No. 7; and Staff Sgt. David J. Thatcher, the engineer-gunner of Aircraft No. 7. The fourth living Doolittle Raider, retired Lt. Col. Robert L. Hite, the copilot of Aircraft No. 16, could not attend the ceremony due to health issues.

The Doolittle Raiders Final Toast Ceremony was streamed via the Air Force and The National Museum’s Web sites and you can get more information about the toast here.Wright-Patterson Air Force Base 



Ohio 



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