Looking For Motorcycle Riders To Honor Air Force Capt. Ryan S. Phaneuf
Ryan’s Ride will be a motorcycle ride to raise money for the Ryan S. Phaneuf Scholarship Fund. I hope after reading about Ryan, that you will consider supporting this event.
There’s a long list of heroes who have dedicated their lives to the service of our Nation. While many are thankfully alive to tell the tales of war, there are thousands who have lost their lives fighting for our country. One specific hero lost his life and there’s a motorcycle ride on September 9th, 2023 to honor him. That man is Air Force Capt. Ryan S. Phaneuf.
The Tragic January Day
On January 27, 2020, a Bombardier E-11A crashed in Ghazni province, Afghanistan, resulting in the deaths of two airmen: Lt. Col. Paul K. Voss and Capt. Ryan S. Phaneuf.
Lt. Col. Voss was just 46-years-old. He was attached to the Air Combat Command headquarters at Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Virginia. Voss served 25 years in active duty and had been at Langley-Eustis for 4 years. Captain Ryan S. Phaneuf was a local New Hampshire man. Just 30-years-old at the time of his passing. He was from Hudson, New Hampshire. Phaneuf was assigned to the 37th Bomb Squadron at Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota, and was an 11B bomber pilot. Lt. Col. Voss, having volunteered for a deployment to Afghanistan, was piloting the E-11A at the time of the crash.
The cause of the crash is still under investigation. It is believed not to have been a shootdown. Remains were found near the crash site and the aircraft’s wreckage was destroyed. The E-11A was a communications aircraft. It was part of a small fleet used for bridging communication gaps. This was especially important in challenging terrains like Afghanistan.
Ryan S. Phaneuf Legacy and Remembrance
While Capt. Ryan S. Phaneuf’s end might have been tragic, the legacy he leaves behind is rich and profound. His sacrifice serves as a stark reminder of the price of freedom and the individuals who pay that price to ensure it.
In remembering Capt. Phaneuf, we don’t just honor the uniform or the medals, but the spirit of service and the heart of a hero. His legacy lives on in the memories of his comrades, his family, and all those who are touched by his story. Which is why there will be a motorcycle ride to honor him.
I hope you will come out to this event to support Ryan’s Ride. Registration is now open!
Ryan’s Ride On September 9, 2023
- 9:30-10:30 Registration $25.00pp
- 10:45 National Anthem sung by Ayla Brown
- 11:00 KSU – 1 hour seacoast ride led by state police escort
- 12:00 BBQ, Live music by Whiskey Business, Raffles, prizes.
- 2:30-3:00 event concludes
RELATED:
We Salute These 13 Country Stars Who Served In The US Military!
Johnny Cash
1st March 1979: Country music legend Johnny Cash (1932 – 2003) in London.
Johnny Cash spent four years in the US Air Force in the 1950s. He was stationed in West Germany for most of that time, and notably eavesdropped on Soviet communication as a radio intercept officer. Over the course of his employment with USAF, Cash learned to translate Russian Morse code.
Kris Kristofferson
Kris served as an army helicopter pilot. He attained the rank of Captain while serving.
Kris Kristofferson once self-identified as an “army brat,” because his father’s position as a US Army Air Corps officer entailed that the family moved around a lot during his childhood. In 1960, the younger Kristofferson followed in his father’s military footsteps, becoming an army helicopter pilot. In 2011, the famed country singer received the Veteran of the Year award at the American Veteran Awards.
Conway Twitty
American singer Conway Twitty at a press reception for his new record ‘Oh Boy’, at the Society Restaurant in London, May 5th 1959. (Photo by Reg Burkett/Keystone/Getty Images)
After graduating from high school, Conway Twitty was offered a contract to play baseball for the Philadelphia Phillies, but was unable to accept because he was drafted into the Army during the Korean War. Twitty began pursuing his musical career after completing his service.
John Prine
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 01: (EDITORS NOTE: Image has been converted to black and white.) John Prine performs at John Anson Ford Amphitheatre on October 01, 2019 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Rich Fury/Getty Images)
Famed country-folk singer/songwriter John Prine served in the US Army after graduating from high school.
Sturgell Simpson
BOSTON, MA – SEPTEMBER 26: Sturgill Simpson performs onstage during day two of the Boston Calling Music Festival at Boston City Hall Plaza on September 26, 2015 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images)
Sturgell Simpson is a veteran of the US Navy.
Johnny Cash
1st March 1979: Country music legend Johnny Cash (1932 – 2003) in London.
Johnny Cash spent four years in the US Air Force in the 1950s. He was stationed in West Germany for most of that time, and notably eavesdropped on Soviet communication as a radio intercept officer. Over the course of his employment with USAF, Cash learned to translate Russian Morse code.
Kris Kristofferson
Kris served as an army helicopter pilot. He attained the rank of Captain while serving.
Kris Kristofferson once self-identified as an “army brat,” because his father’s position as a US Army Air Corps officer entailed that the family moved around a lot during his childhood. In 1960, the younger Kristofferson followed in his father’s military footsteps, becoming an army helicopter pilot. In 2011, the famed country singer received the Veteran of the Year award at the American Veteran Awards.
Conway Twitty
American singer Conway Twitty at a press reception for his new record ‘Oh Boy’, at the Society Restaurant in London, May 5th 1959. (Photo by Reg Burkett/Keystone/Getty Images)
After graduating from high school, Conway Twitty was offered a contract to play baseball for the Philadelphia Phillies, but was unable to accept because he was drafted into the Army during the Korean War. Twitty began pursuing his musical career after completing his service.
John Prine
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 01: (EDITORS NOTE: Image has been converted to black and white.) John Prine performs at John Anson Ford Amphitheatre on October 01, 2019 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Rich Fury/Getty Images)
Famed country-folk singer/songwriter John Prine served in the US Army after graduating from high school.
Sturgell Simpson
BOSTON, MA – SEPTEMBER 26: Sturgill Simpson performs onstage during day two of the Boston Calling Music Festival at Boston City Hall Plaza on September 26, 2015 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images)
Sturgell Simpson is a veteran of the US Navy.
Ayla Brown is the host of “Country Mornings With Ayla Brown” from 5:30-9am. You can read the rest of her blogs here.
