Fallen aviators remembered ... Lt. Cameron Hall, Lt. Ryan Betton, Lt. j.g. Jerry Smith

Three young men, three bright futures ... lost in a tragic plane crash in the Atlantic Ocean. One leaves behind a wife and two-year-old son; all leave behind family and friends.

A memorial service was held yesterday at the Navy base in Norfolk ... a time to remember fallen heroes.

As bagpipes played in the background - with heavy hearts - they exited the chapel. There were tributes and then silence interrupted by the familiar sound of jets flying overhead. As the breeze picked up below, it was almost as though three fallen heroes were waving goodbye from above.

Read the entire tribute here.

Information is available here for donations toward a memorial scholarship fund for Lt. Ryan Betton's son.

A grateful nation mourns three fallen heroes....

Related posts:
-- In Memory of Lt. Cameron N. Hall, U.S. Navy
-- Lt. Cameron Hall, we are thankful for your service
-- Memorial Service Information
-- KSLA-TV 12 news video about Lt. Cameron Hall

Lt. Cameron Hall, USN: We are thankful for your service

A tribute from a friend or coworker tells much about a person ... and this comment left in memory of Lt. Cameron Hall who was killed in the Navy plane crash Wednesday bears that out. Written as a comment for the post, "In memory of Lt. Cameron N Hall, U.S. Navy," Maura said:

I'm so sorry, so very sorry. It's unfair. I'm a physiologist at the Naval Air Systems Command, currently in Norfolk but based out of Patuxent River NAS. I knew Cameron and am still shocked at the news. I worked with him for a short time at the end of 2005, while he was still at VAW-117. What a memorable, vibrant, feisty, funny, and likable guy! He helped make my work at Pt. Mugu worthwhile; he showed me around, made the introductions, made plenty of jokes, and made sure I was able to get things done. I wish his family and friends peace, and I hope they find some comfort in the fact that Cameron touched many others with his energy and kindness. He had a smile that lit up a room. He made me and others laugh a lot. His life was not in vain. He won't be forgotten. Regards, Maura Rudy

Cameron's family will find comfort in Maura's words. He sounded like an extraordinary young man, and we are thankful for his service to our country....

Memorial Service Info

In memory of Lt. Cameron N. Hall, U.S. Navy

In Memory
Lt. Cameron N. Hall, 30
United States Navy
Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron
ONE TWENTY (VAW 120)
USS Harry S. Truman
Killed in Hawkeye plane crash
August 15, 2007

Nephew of our Military Mom, USAF veteran Shannon Taylor
and cousin to her daughter Brandi Taylor, USAF

I received sad news from Military Mom Shannon Taylor. Her nephew, Lt. Cameron Hall, 30, from Natchitoches, LA, was killed Wednesday in the Navy plane that crashed into the ocean after taking off from the USS Harry S. Truman. Cameron, who was unmarried, was a Naval Flight Officer and an instructor, and had been with the squadron since April 2006. They were training to deploy to the Middle East. Shannon said he was a great all-around guy and you couldn't ask for a better military guy.

Also killed in the crash were Lieutenant Ryan K. Betton, 31, of Collinsville, Va, who was married with a two-year-old son; and Lieutenant Junior Grade Jerry R. Smith, 25, of Greenville, Me, who also was single.

A memorial service will be held at the Navy base in Norfolk on Thursday, August 23, at 1:00 p.m.

Cameron's dad, Evan, is Shannon's brother, part of a proud military family. He served as a warrant officer in the U.S. Army. Shannon is an Air Force veteran; her daughter, Brandi, is a SSgt. in the Air Force stationed at Beale AFB in California.

Shannon became known as "Military Mom" in Augusta County because her daugher, Brandi, was stationed with the United States Air Force in South Korea four years ago when the first anti-war protesters hit the streets of Staunton. Brandi, stationed half a world away, wondered what was going on ... and thus began the Support the Troops rallies in the SWAC area.

Today Shannon signed herself as a Proud Military Aunt.

Our prayers go to Shannon, Brandi, and their family at this sad time. Our thanks to them all for their service to our country. We are grateful.

May God bless them all.

USS Harry S. Truman

KSLA-TV 12 (Shreveport, LA) news video about Lt. Cameron Hall

Lt. Cameron Hall, we are grateful for your service