U.S. Virgin Islands squadron pays tribute to 3 killed in 1996 crash

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Participants in the memorial service.


Capt. Akeem Innis
Commander
St. Croix Composite Squadron
Puerto Rico Wing

VIRGIN ISLAND – The Puerto Rico Wing’s St. Croix Composite Squadron conducted a memorial service Oct. 31 in honor of three Civil Air Patrol members killed in a plane crash 13 years earlier. 

The three – Capt. Normando Ortero, pilot, and 14-year-old cadets Natasha Ayala and Dorence Isidore -- were killed when their plane crashed just after takeoff during an orientation flight Oct. 26, 1996, on St. Croix. The memorial service was held at the crash site.

Many dignitaries were among those in attendance, including U.S. Virgin Island Lt. Gov. Gregory Francis, Virgin Islands Police Commissioner Novelle Francis and Jonathan Smalls, chief executive officer of Sen. Sammuel Sanes’ office. Francis and Smalls are both former Civil Air Patrol members.

Also present were members of both cadets’ families, along with numerous former CAP members, family and friends of current members and well-wishers.

After the 1 ½-hour memorial service, the Virgin Islands Police Department Traffic Unit sent a police unit to escort about 20 cars in a silent motorcade from the memorial site to Kingshill Cemetery, where Isidore is buried.

The family and CAP members laid wreaths and flowers on his grave, and then the motorcade continued from to Frederiksted Cemetery, site of Ayala’s grave. Her family, friends and CAP members laid wreaths and many flowers. 

After the memorial Ayala's mother, Ema Ayala Miller, took the 20 St. Croix Composite members to lunch. 

The caring people of the Virgin Islands donated all of the floral arrangements and wreaths.