Memorial companies had been held for retired Air Power Main Gary “Bear” Sholders on the Armed Forces Tribute Backyard in Westminster, Colorado, on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, 2024. Sholders died on October twenty sixth, 2024 on the age of 80.
“He was a extremely adorned fighter jet pilot who fought to the top,” stated his son Trevor Sholders. Throughout his 20 years of service, Sholders was awarded the Silver Star, for gallantry in motion towards the enemy, and the Distinguished Flying Cross, an honor bestowed for extraordinary achievement of heroism throughout aerial flight.
Sholders was an F-4 Phantom pilot in Vietnam. He battled most cancers for 8 years which members of the family stated is assumed to have come from his publicity to Agent Orange in the course of the battle. He flew 100+ missions over enemy territory and a complete of 210 missions in his 15 months of responsibility in Vietnam from 1972 to 1973.
Through the memorial service, which came about underneath bluebird skies and heat temperatures, the pilot was given a firing of three volleys from the Air and Area Power base Honor Guard from Buckley Air Power Base. An F-16 from the one hundred and twentieth Fighter Squadron made a fly-over on the finish of the service and an American flag was offered to his spouse Suzi. The couple had been married for 57 years.
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