Beneath the static display of a B-52 bomber outside Denver’s Wings Over the Rockies museum, Miriam Burris clasped a hand over her mouth and began to sob.
Unbeknownst to her, Burris’ children bought a commemorative brick bearing the name of her late husband for the museum’s Runway of Honor, part of Wings Over the Rockies’ veterans memorial plaza.
More than 100 new bricks featuring the names of veterans, aviators and others were unveiled Monday during an outdoor Memorial Day ceremony.
“It means a lot,” said daughter Anne Burris, holding back tears as she watched her mother’s grief and pride swell as she looked at the brick.
Air Force pilot Bob Burris flew in World War II and the Korean War. He even led the last flight out of Lowry Air Force Base when the runway closed in the mid-1960s, said his son, Rob Burris.
“I just wanted to give something back to her and my dad to say, ‘Thanks for everything,’ ” Rob Burris said. “Lowry is a huge part of our lives. It’s the reason we are here.”
Joe Sokol stood over his own brick, smiling at the name: Lt. Col. J.P. Sokol.
“Pretty nice,” said the former B-29 pilot, who flew over Japan during World War II and also fought in the Korean War.
Not far from where he stood, Jane Rice and her family took photos of their bricks — six in all, including hers, Sgt. Jane Rice, and one for her grandfather, Bern E. Hall, who fought in World War I.
“We’ve got 23 people here for this,” she said. “It’s exciting. People came all the way from Utah.”
The ceremony also , whose brick also sits under the nose of the B-52.
As a member of the Chinese air force in World War II, Yee worked as a translator to Claire Lee Chennault and the American Volunteer Group, the aviation legends who became famously known as the Flying Tigers that helped defeat the Japanese.
Yee is one of the few people alive who served with Chennault and the original Flying Tigers.
Yee, who has lived in the U.S. for more than 65 years, resides in Aurora. He was being followed by a Chinese television news team documenting his story.
“Communist China has finally recognized the significance of the Flying Tigers and what it did for China,” he said. “Among all the wars I’ve seen happen in my lifetime, World War II is the one that had to be fought.”
Jeremy P. Meyer: 303-954-1367 or jpmeyer@denverpost.com
