Randy Lyman, COO of REACH/Guardian Flight, gives his opening remarks during the memorial in the auditorium at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé on Friday, June 7, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Randy Lyman, COO of REACH/Guardian Flight, gives his opening remarks during the memorial in the auditorium at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé on Friday, June 7, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Live: Memorial honors victims of Guardian crash

Updates from the event.

5:10 p.m.

Check out more photos from the event here.

2:31 p.m.

The memorial is headed outside now, where there is supposed to be a helicopter flyover. That will do it for our live coverage, but we’ll have a full story up later today.

2:22 p.m.

Now another slideshow is going, set to a version of Josh Groban’s “You Raise Me Up.”

2:15 p.m.

Danielle Jackson, a first responder in Kake, tells a quick but powerful story about Morse.

“I’m just the ambulance driver,” Jackson said to Morse during one call.

“Honey, you’re not just anything,” Morse responded.

2:10 p.m.

Joel Jackson and other representatives from Kake are now on stage. Jackson says he remembers seeing this crew many times, and says the last time he saw Stacie, she was sharing the news that she was pregnant. He also says the school in Kake had its children make drawings in the time following the crash, to help them process the tragedy. Those drawings were then given to Guardian or the families, it sounds like.

2:04 p.m.

Uniformed personnel, just presented family members with a flag.

Then an audio clip is played, a flight dispatch that’s been made specifically for this service.

It says, in part:

“Crew, you have completed your service here. Now it’s time to rest. All units break for a moment of silence.”

That’s followed by a moment of silence, one where you can hear people around the auditorium softly sobbing.

Then the dispatch says:

“Pat, Margaret, Stacie and Delta Rae…may you rest in peace knowing your strength lives on. Thank you for your commitment, service and ultimate sacrifice…you are cleared to ascend. Only blue skies and tail winds ahead for you. Godspeed and high flight. We’ll carry you with us from here. Dispatch clear.”

1:55 p.m.

Oleksa makes the point that to be a real, genuine human being, a person must be willing to be selfless. They must learn to sacrifice something for others and who care more for others than themselves.

“We’re honoring three real human beings today,” Oleksa says, adding that this ceremony is also honoring first responders in all fields.

1:48 p.m.

Father Michael Oleksa, an elder for the Alaska Federation of Natives, is now telling origin stories about Alaska.

Father Michael Oleksa, an Elder of the Alaska Federation of Natives, offers an inspirational story during a memorial for the Guardian Flight crew at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé on Friday, June 7, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Father Michael Oleksa, an Elder of the Alaska Federation of Natives, offers an inspirational story during a memorial for the Guardian Flight crew at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé on Friday, June 7, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

1:38 p.m.

Valerie Cassidy, a flight nurse for Guardian, talks about Morse, saying her smile was infectious and her work ethic was never-ending. She says Morse would have made a great mother.

“The world is a better place for having had Pat, Margaret and Stacie in it,” Cassidy says, “and there will be a hole unfilled.”

1:34 p.m.

Leslie, a flight nurse for Guardian, says Langston had an incredible ability to melt people’s hearts and make an instant connection.

“In the short time that I got to know her, Margaret left an indelible imprint on my heart,” Leslie says.

Guardian Flight nurse Leslie Carey reflects on flight nurse Margaret Langston during a memorial for the Guardian Flight crew at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé on Friday, June 7, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Guardian Flight nurse Leslie Carey reflects on flight nurse Margaret Langston during a memorial for the Guardian Flight crew at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé on Friday, June 7, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

1:27 p.m.

Ben Wagner, a team member for Guardian, is now speaking about Margaret Langston.

Wagner says the outpouring of support from the community has been “nothing short of incredible.”

“On behalf of the Juneau base, we all thank you very much,” Wagner says.

A first responders Honor Guard enter the auditorium for the Guardian memorial at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé on Friday, June 7, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

A first responders Honor Guard enter the auditorium for the Guardian memorial at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé on Friday, June 7, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

1:25 p.m.

Magnusson says Coyle used to make banana bread and would try to get it to people as fast as possible so they could get it hot out of the oven.

1:23 p.m.

Eric Magnusson, a captain for Guardian, is speaking about Patrick Coyle.

“If you were blessed to spend even a minute with Pat, you’d feel like you knew him,” Magnusson says.

He then reads a funny bio of Coyle’s on an online travel site, one that begins, “I was born at a very young age.” There are sniffles around the room, but some of the lines in that bio crack people up.

Here’s a photo of Magnusson speaking:

Guardian pilots reflect on pilot Patrick Coyle during a memorial for the Guardian Flight crew at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé on Friday, June 7, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Guardian pilots reflect on pilot Patrick Coyle during a memorial for the Guardian Flight crew at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé on Friday, June 7, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

1:18 p.m.

Joshua Radin’s “Worlds Apart” plays as a slideshow of photographs is shown. That song is embedded below, with lyrics in the video.

1:15 p.m.

Apparently Gov. Mike Dunleavy was scheduled to speak, but he wasn’t able to make it. Randy Lyman, the COO of REACH/Guardian Flight, reads a nice letter from the governor instead.

1:12 p.m.

You can watch the memorial live here.

People gather for the Guardian memorial at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé on Friday, June 7, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

People gather for the Guardian memorial at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé on Friday, June 7, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

1:10 p.m.

Those in attendance include Rep. Andi Story and Juneau Police Chief Ed Mercer.

12:55 p.m.

We’re in attendance at the memorial ceremony for the victims of the Jan. 29 Guardian Flight crash. Dozens of family members are expected to be in attendance, as well as various first responders and people in the medevac community.

The approximately 80-minute ceremony will honor pilot Patrick Coyle, flight nurse Stacie Rae Morse and flight paramedic Margaret Langston. Morse was pregnant with a child she planned to name Delta Rae.

Read more about the memorial here.

More in News

(Juneau Empire file photo)
Aurora forecast through the week of Feb. 1

These forecasts are courtesy of the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Geophysical Institute… Continue reading

Two flags with pro-life themes, including the lower one added this week to one that’s been up for more than a year, fly along with the U.S. and Alaska state flags at the Governor’s House on Tuesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Doublespeak: Dunleavy adds second flag proclaiming pro-life allegiance at Governor’s House

First flag that’s been up for more than a year joined by second, more declarative banner.

Students play trumpets at the first annual Jazz Fest in 2024. (Photo courtesy of Sandy Fortier)
Join the second annual Juneau Jazz Fest to beat the winter blues

Four-day music festival brings education of students and Southeast community together.

Frank Richards, president of the Alaska Gasline Development Corp., speaks at a Jan. 6, 2025, news conference held in Anchorage by Gov. Mike Dunleavy. Dunleavy and Randy Ruaro, executive director of the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority, are standing behind RIchards. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
For fourth consecutive year, gas pipeline boss is Alaska’s top-paid public executive

Sen. Bert Stedman, R-Sitka, had the highest compensation among state legislators after all got pay hike.

Juneau Assembly Member Maureen Hall (left) and Mayor Beth Weldon (center) talk to residents during a break in an Assembly meeting Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, about the establishment of a Local Improvement District that would require homeowners in the area to pay nearly $6,300 each for barriers to protect against glacial outburst floods. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Flood district plan charging property owners nearly $6,300 each gets unanimous OK from Assembly

117 objections filed for 466 properties in Mendenhall Valley deemed vulnerable to glacial floods.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Friday, Jan. 31, 2025

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

University of Alaska President Pat Pitney gives the State of the University address in Juneau on Jan. 30, 2025. She highlighted the wide variety of educational and vocational programs as creating opportunities for students, and for industries to invest in workforce development and the future of Alaska’s economy. (Corinne Smith/Alaska Beacon)
University of Alaska president highlights impact on workforce, research and economy in address

Pat Pitney also warns “headwinds” are coming with federal executive orders and potential budget cuts.

Most Read