Wednesday,  July 11, 2012 • Vol. 12--No. 363 • 17 of 27 •  Other Editions

(Continued from page 16)

the 145 Airlift Wing in 2001 and leaves behind a wife and two children. His family said he had a passion for flying. McCormick was an accomplished instructor pilot who joined the wing in 2005 and is survived by a wife and four children. David was an experienced navigator who joined the North Carolina Air National Guard last year after leaving the Air Force and had a wife and one child. Cannon was the most experienced. The flight engineer had served 29 years with the unit. He leaves behind a wife and two children.
• Friends of the National Guard members -- some fighting back tears -- spoke to the crowd at the memorial service.
• Lt. Col. Jim Pearson said Mikeal was his mentor:
• "What can I say about Lt. Col. Paul Mikeal? He exuded excellence in everything he did as an aviator, friend and family man. I had the pleasure of seeing Paul excel

in all three areas. He inspired me to be a better family man."
• Maj. James Bodolosky said McCormick was his best friend.
• "As we walked through life together, Joe and I encouraged and strengthened each other. And as it says in Proverbs 27:17: 'As iron sharpens iron so one man sharpens another.' That was my relationship with Joe McCormick. He was always sharpening me and I was always sharpening him. And I will miss him dearly."
• Maj. Toshio Sameshima recalled David's smile and laugh.
• "What made him so exceptional was his character...Ryan had a spirit that made everything around him glow brighter. I don't care how bad a day it was, how terrible a situation it was...you could always count on Ryan for a smile and a laugh," he said,.
•

SD legislative panel OKs boost in livestock fee
CHET BROKAW,Associated Press

• PIERRE, S.D. (AP) -- A legislative committee on Tuesday approved a state board's compromise plan to raise the fee for brand inspections that are designed to prevent the theft of cattle and horses in western South Dakota.
• The 3-1 vote by the Rules Review Committee allows the state Brand Board to increase the current 80-cent inspection fee to 90 cents a head on Sept. 1, a move expected to keep the brand inspection program in the black for at least three years. The committee's approval is needed before state agencies' rules can take effect.
• However, the lawmakers also recommended that another legislative panel, the Government Operations and Audit Committee, take a detailed look into the Brand

(Continued on page 18)

© 2012 Groton Daily Independent • To send correspondence, click here.