Tree dedicated in honor of fallen Center Moriches airman

There’s a new magnolia tree with a clear view of Kalers Pond that has a special place in the hearts of many local residents.

On Saturday, the Chamber of Commerce of the Moriches organized a dedication ceremony at the Brookhaven Town-owned Kalers Pond Park to honor Maj. Andreas B. O’Keeffe, a Center Moriches resident and pilot with the New York Air National Guard’s 106th Rescue Wing who died in a crash while on a search-and-rescue and mission in western Iraq on March 15, 2018.

The event was attended by residents, veterans, police personnel, officials and O’Keeffe’s mother Mary Ann, of Tampa, Florida, brother Shán, of Canton, Georgia, and girlfriend Allison Denniston, of Hampton Bays.

“It makes me proud that he was so well thought of up here,” said Mary Ann, who flew in for the occasion. “The outpouring of love from all of the people is fantastic.”

Between his tenure in the Air Force and the National Guard, O’Keeffe, 37, who was posthumously promoted from captain, was deployed to Iraq three times, as well as to Afghanistan twice, the Horn of Africa and Texas during Hurricane Harvey. He joined the 106th Rescue Wing in 2013.

Shán said his brother was particularly proud of his team’s response to Hurricane Harvey in Texas.

“One day, he and his crew rescued 33 folks,” he said, adding that Andreas also described the Horn of Africa as “very challenging.”

A ‘fitting’ tribute

Col. Michael Bank, the commander of the 106th Rescue Wing, said the tree was “extremely fitting” since trees provide shelter from storms, and O’Keefe volunteered to aid in back-to-back hurricane efforts, helping coordinate the Hurricane Irma rescue efforts.

O’Keeffe was one of seven airmen, including three Long Island residents, who were killed when their HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter crashed. The other Long Islanders were Master Sgt. Chris Raguso, 39, of Commack, and Staff Sgt. Dashan J. Briggs, 30, of Port Jefferson Station. Both were also assigned to the 106th Rescue Wing.

Brookhaven Supervisor Ed Romaine said the town plans to add a plaque with O’Keefe’s name where the tree, which was donated by Bay Gardens in East Moriches, is located.

“Andy O’Keefe’s life was a light for us all to see,” said retired Lt. Col. David Ruvolo, who served with O’Keefe. “This tree is a symbol of a life well lived.”

The event was bittersweet to O’Keeffe’s family.

“I thought it was a very touching ceremony,” said Shán O’Keeffe, a retired Air Force pilot. “The three main speakers did a great job of touching on his personality and dedication of service. My brother would probably not appreciate all this pomp and circumstance on his behalf,” as he once relayed in a conversation.

However, “It’s touching and important to the family that he was recognized for who he was.”