Linda DeFrancesco, mother of Senior Airman Lawrence

Linda DeFrancesco, mother of Senior Airman Lawrence DeFrancesco, places her hands on a plaque with her son’s name on it during a quiet moment before a ceremony at the Yukla 27 memorial. American and Canadian airmen assigned to the 962nd Airborne Air Control Squadron, distinguished guests, and surviving family members of the crew of the E-3B Sentry, Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft, call sign Yukla 27, gathered for 20th anniversary memorial ceremonies on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Tuesday. On Elmendorf Air Force Base, Sept. 22, 1995, Yukla 27 from the 962nd Airborne Air Control Squadron encountered a flock of geese and crashed shortly after takeoff on a routine surveillance training sortie, killing all 24 U.S. and Canadian Airmen aboard. (U.S. Air Force photos/Justin Connaher)