Hundreds gather to honor fallen area airman killed during Operation Epic Fury

Hundreds gathered to honor an area airman who was killed in the Middle East in early March.

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As reported on News Center 7 at 11:00, Captain Curtis Angst was one of six people who died when their air refueling tanker crashed in Iraq a few weeks ago.

Three of the victims were in Ohio.

A motorcade brought Captain Angst’s body back home to Wilmington.

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>>PHOTO: Procession for area airman takes places in Clinton County

News Center 7’s Malik Patterson said that Veterans and people of all ages waited for hours to pay their respects. Many were on the verge of tears as they watched the motorcade.

Dani Fast oversaw planting American flags in the grass.

“I’m heartbroken for the community and for his family, and I just wanted to be here to support them,” she said.

Patterson said that degrees of separation are small in Wilmington. The Angst family is well known and loved.

“I know his widow and her family, and I just love them so much, and I know that he was a good person because he was part of their family,” said Fast.

She was very intentional with red roses with black petals.

“Red roses represent love, and the black, of course, represents death,” she said. “I love our country. I love the people here, and that’s why I decided to put flags out as well.”

Captain Angst was born and raised in Wilmington, and his family has ties to education.

His mother works for Wilmington City Schools, and his mother-in-law, Mindy McCarty-Stewart, is the superintendent of Kettering City Schools.

Patterson said that there were many Veterans in the crowd.

Gustelia Scott is a retired U.S. Air Force member. She explained why it is important for Veterans to be in Wilmington.

“We’ve lost one of our own, not only the veteran, from my standpoint, but from my community. We’ve lost one of our own,” said Scott.

She wanted to give the Angst family the time and space to grieve. But they wanted them to know this.

“I’m so sorry for your loss, and you are in my prayers. And nothing I can say will take their pain away, so that’s all I can do is say you’re in my prayers,” she said.

The procession ended at the Edgington Funeral Home to allow family and close friends to pay their respects.