an empty casket, with her own young children, 8 year-
old Howard and 7-year-old Lisa, as they received the
war medals of their father, awarded posthumously.
Hanging in Lisa Cherry's Huntington Woods home
are her father's framed Purple Heart, Air Medal,
Distinguished Flying Cross, Combat Readiness Medal
and Silver Star. A second set had been presented to
Arden and Cherry's son, but following Howard's death
at age 16 in an automobile accident, the awards were
donated to the National Jewish War Veterans in
Washington, D.C.
Through the years, Arden maintained that the man
whose wings she wore on her sweaters while a student at
Mumford High School "was my love."
Having met Cherry briefly when she was 12, she
reunited with him at age 15, and called him "the hand-
somest thing I ever saw." Three years later they were
married. The relationship "just clicked."
Arden called Cherry a "very, very, very devoted son "
to his father, a dry cleaner, and his mother, who worked
in the glove department at the old downtown J.L.
Hudson's store. Following his father's death, the Detroit
Central High School graduate pursued a degree at
Wayne State University while working in his father's
store and taking care of his mother.
"He talked of going to medical school, but flying was
in his blood," Arden said. Cherry enlisted in the Air
Force in 1957. After participating in Air Force training,
he graduated as a second lieutenant. At 30 years old,
just five weeks after arriving in Vietnam, and one day
after writing to his mother that the Detroit riots sound-
ed more dangerous than the war, the career pilot died
during his first combat flight.
Arden said her only consolation is that Cherry "died
doing what he loved." She added, "He was so happy
when he was flying."
Offered an Arlington National Cemetery service for
her late husband, Arden chose instead to have him
buried at Machpelah next to their son. That memorial
service was important to Arden, noting that having died
young, her late husband was never given the opportuni-
ty to reach his potential. This was her way to honor
what he did achieve.
Rabbi Paul Yedwab of Temple Israel called it an honor
to preside over a fallen comrade, whom he referred to as
a hero not forgotten. He also spoke of his father, Rabbi
Stanley Yedwab, who officiated at the Cherrys' 1959
wedding in Texas. Arden said that connection made her
feel she and Allan Cherry had "come full circle."
She, her children and her grandchildren sat in the
green velvet mourners chairs at graveside as an Air Force
honor guard from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in
Ohio performed its duties. A 21 gun salute crackled.
The bugler played "Taps."
Russi Arden took a deep breath and said she was
pleased with what she called "my last tribute to Allan."
"This door is now closed," she said. "He's home with
his son.
Arden was ready to go home and light a yahrtzeit
candle of remembrance for Cherry as she does each year
on the anniversary of his death.
But her grandson, Allan Howard Cherry, lingered
another minute to look at the newly dug grave and the
casket held above it. He clutched a triangular, folded
American flag, the most tangible memory he will have
of a grandfather never knew but whose name he
bears. 1-1

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-

Clockwise from top left:
Left: Lt. William Owens, USAF; presents
Lisa Cherry with the flag from her father's memorial
service while her son, Allan, looks on.
Air Force jets fly overhead during memorial service.
Western Union telegram dated August 1967 informing Lisa and Howard Cherry of
their father's death.
On the back of this 1964 photo of Air Force Captain Allan Sheldon Cherry are the
words he wrote to his wife, Russi: "Forever I belong to you, my love -- Allan."
The Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Honor Guard act as pallbearers,
while Lisa Cherry and her daughter Rachel, stand with Russi Arden.

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Detroit Jewish News

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