PALMDALE – Well over 100 residents and military service members came out Saturday for a local tribute to Captain Victoria Ann Castro Pinckney, the Palmdale High School graduate killed in the line of duty earlier this month.
Attendees included Victoria’s kindergarten teacher, Linda Scalzi, her 6th grade teacher, Kara Mailand, and her high school Latin teacher Robert Ruckmann. Several airmen from Edwards Air Force Base and the Antelope Valley Patriot Guard Riders were also in attendance.
The touching memorial service included the Posting of the Colors by the Eagle Scouts from Troop 737, the singing of the National Anthem by the Palmdale High School Chamber Singers, and remarks from Chaplain Gary Bassett of VFW Post 3554 and Palmdale Mayor Jim Ledford.
Other highlights of the ceremony included a musical performance by Meghan Pennock (guitar) and Carina (vocals), a poem by Michael Pennock, and a tribute read by Oliver Vaughn and written by Alexa Vaughn.
There was also a slide show and video tribute to Victoria. The moving ceremony ended with a 21 Gun Salute by VFW Post 3554. View the entire program here.
The tribute slideshow above was created by close friend Dorene Mailand Vaughn, and it chronicles the highlights in Victoria’s life, from birth to present.
Saturday’s memorial service was organized by Dorene Mailand Vaughn and Lisa Pennock.
View our previous related story here: Air Force Captain from Palmdale dies in tragic plane crash