On Monday, the Brotherhood of Heroes in Cape Coral honored the lives of 14 men who died in a plane crash on the USS Nimitz in May of 1981.
"We do this because my best friend died that day. His name was Dennis Driscoll. He was 21," said event coordinator Chris Cammarota.
Driscoll and 13 other crewmen were remembered Monday. They gave the ultimate sacrifice when a surveillance plane crashed on the flight deck of one of the largest warships in the world during a training exercise off the coast of Jacksonville.
One by one, Cammarota read the names of the 14 crewmembers who died as veterans rang a bell to honor each one.
Cammorata was just 20 years old when it happened. He's here Monday to honor and remember his friend.
"Some people wear the uniform. Dennis died with the uniform on. That's why we're here to celebrate Memorial Day, because some of us have been veterans of war. Some of us never got a chance to take it off," Cammarota said.
At the Brotherhood of Heroes Resource Center, living veterans shared their stories, and locals like Lisa Gelman came to hear firsthand what happened that day.
"It was really nice to see some living veterans who came from out of town to remember those who had fallen. I really enjoyed the intimate opportunity to meet them and hear their stories," Gelman said.
Cammarota hopes people use this day to reflect and honor those who gave their lives for our country.
"This day we should never forget it. I'm 60-something. If I live to be 100, as long as I could do this, I'll be doing this for Dennis and the rest of the veterans who never came home," Cammarota said.
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