May 27 – Less than a year ago, Staff Sgt. Tanner Grone and four other soldiers were killed after the MH-60 Black Hawk helicopter they were on during a routine refueling mission crashed in the Mediterranean Sea.
Monday was the first Memorial Day without them.
The 25-year-old from Gorham, who served as a mechanic and crew chief, dreamed of becoming a helicopter pilot before the Nov. 10, 2023, crash.
On Friday, a New Hampshire National Guard Black Hawk helicopter flew over the New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery in Boscawen to honor Grone, where his family said his ashes were buried.
His parents, Steve and Erica, brought their son’s ashes from Gorham into his car so he could “take one last ride in his prized white Subaru WRX.”
During the ceremony, a table featured portraits of Grone, dog tags on a stuffed bear and an aviation helmet.
“It was full of emotion,” said Joe Cartisano, commander of the American Legion Post 82 in Gorham.
He said many took part to ensure Grone’s sacrifice would never be forgotten.
“It was his final resting place,” Cartisano said. “As hard as it was, I think it was closure for the family.”
The family was happy that the Black Hawk was able to make a flyover during the somber memorial.
The aircraft, Grone and his fellow soldiers were assigned to the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne). The soldiers are known as “Night Stalkers” and are recognized for their skill in nighttime operations.
The soldiers are trained to “conduct the toughest missions in all environments, anywhere in the world, day and night, with unparalleled precision,” according to the website.
The soldiers were conducting aerial refueling when the “plane experienced an in-flight emergency” and crashed, the US Department of Defense said. There was no indication that the crash was caused by enemy or hostile action.
The others who died that day were:
—Chief Warrant Officer 3 Stephen R. Dwyer, 38, of Clarksville, Tennessee;
—Chief Warrant Officer 2 Shane M. Barnes, 34, of Sacramento, California;
—Sgt. Andrew P. Southard, 27, of Apache Junction, Ariz.;
—Sgt. Cade M. Wolfe, 24, of Mankato, Minnesota.
Grone’s parents wrote a tribute on Facebook on Monday saying they missed their son.
“Sometimes people forget who our real heroes are! We idolize celebrities because they can act or throw a ball, but our real heroes are our soldiers who risk their lives every day to keep everyone safe,” they wrote. “A true hero doesn’t ask for recognition or financial compensation, they do it because they want to do the right thing… Protect our country and yet people worship a celebrity more than a hero!”
Scoggins General Store, owned by the Grone family, flew a flag outside the story to honor the crew.
“Never forget those who fight for our freedom and those who fought and lost their lives for our freedom,” the couple wrote.
Grone graduated from Gorham High School in 2016.
Tributes to Grone leading up to Memorial Day were posted across New Hampshire and across the country.
During the grand opening of MOMS Jericho on Saturday in Gorham, the New Hampshire State Police color guard raised a huge American flag in Grone’s honor. A photo of Grone was on display during the festivities.
Ashley Southard, the wife of fellow fallen soldier Andy Southard, placed memorials at Fort Campbell in Kentucky earlier this month to honor all the soldiers who died. She also placed small flags in their commemorative boots.
“If you have an extra beer ready for them, I’d love to see it, but if you can just say their name that day, please do so,” Southard wrote on Facebook. “Remember them, their sacrifice and the legacy they left behind.”
New Hampshire Motor Speedway also honored Grone as part of its NASCAR salute.
“We thank SSG Grone for his service and sacrifice. We will always honor and remember. #NASCARSalutes,” read a post on Facebook.
