Posted on 02/11/2003 7:38:36 AM PST by yonif
The Israeli Air Force saluted their fallen fighter pilot and astronaut Col. Ilan Ramon today with a flyover of four F-16s above his burial site just as his funeral came to an end.
As the planes flew in formation toward the Nahalal cemetery in northern Israel, one of them veered off to the right as it passed the burial ground. Moments beforehand three rounds of gunfire reverberated though the Galilee hills, signifying the end of the hourlong funeral.
A policeman at a roadblock set up to keep the public away from the site, in keeping with the family's wishes, bowed his head in respect.
Ramon, 48, who died with six other astronauts in the Columbia space shuttle disaster on February 1, frequently flew the F-16, most historically when he participated in the mission that bombed the Iraqi nuclear reactor at Osirak, outside of Baghdad, in 1981.
About 200 people attended the burial on a hilltop overlooking Ramon's favorite landscape, the majestic Jezreel Valley in Galilee. It is a famous burial ground, located next to one of modern Israel's first settlements.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.