Va. Guard Aviation holds Safety Stand Down - May 17, 2014

The Virginia National Guard’s Sandston-based 2nd Battalion, 224th Aviation Regiment held their annual Safety Day May 17, 2014, at Fort Lee, Va. The event included presentations on recent incidents, mitigating safety risks and the key attributes of being a leader. Maj. Gen. Daniel E. Long Jr, the Adjutant General of Virginia, spoke to the Soldiers and emphasized how proud he was of the aviators and how safe he has always felt getting into a Virginia National Guard helicopter, knowing the high value Virginia aviators put on safety. Awards were also presented to several Soldiers, including safety awards presented by the families of Col. Paul Kelly and Staff Sgt. Darryl Booker, who were killed along with 10 other Soldiers Jan. 20, 2007, when the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter they were in crashed in Iraq.