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In a moving tribute held at Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵAPP’s Military Veteran Returning Adults Center, the community gathered to honor the life and legacy of Shane Barnes (‘11), a beloved alum, ROTC cadet, decorated Army aviator, and devoted husband and father who died in a tragic helicopter crash while deployed with the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment.

The ceremony was attended by a heartfelt crowd, including Gonzaga President Dr. Thayne McCulloh, members of the ROTC battalion, and Barnes’ family— including his wife Samantha, their two young daughters, his parents Mike and Kelly Barnes, his brother Josh and his sister-in-law, Alex.

 

“Shane felt the call to service, and he served this nation and this community with honor and valor,” said Dr. McCulloh. “We hope that today is but a moment in the continued story of our shared relationship. You are and will always be an important part of this Gonzaga community.”

Shane’s decision to turn down an appointment at West Point to attend Gonzaga is now part of campus lore, a powerful testament to where he felt called. During his time at GU, Shane was known as a compassionate leader and quiet powerhouse, embodying the Jesuit ideal of being a man for others. Following graduation, he became a Black Hawk pilot, serving in Afghanistan, Iraq, and South Korea, where he earned the Distinguished Flying Cross and over 1,000 flight hours, culminating in his designation as a Senior Army Aviator.

His favorite quote, shared by his wife Samantha and now displayed beneath the new wooden flag on the student veteran center, reads:

That quote now rests beneath a four-by-seven-foot wooden American flag handcrafted by Matthew Laramie (’23), MVRAC Program Coordinator and Navy veteran, along with his partner Sidra Flynn. “Every part of that process was a reflection on who veterans are and what they give,” Laramie said. “If we’re serious about honoring Shane, then we don’t just hang the flag. We live like he lived.”

LTC Michael Omodt (’03), Gonzaga’s newly appointed Professor of Military Science and fellow aviation officer, called Shane “a symbol rooted here at Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵAPP of the depth of sacrifice and the bond that ties him eternally to this community.”

Today’s ceremony was not only a memorial but a call to action. Speakers urged attendees to live more purposefully, to lead with love, and to carry forward Shane’s example of courage and humility.

As the flag was unveiled and the wind stirred gently on Gonzaga’s campus, it seemed the university itself paused—to remember, to grieve, and above all, to honor the kind of hero who chose to walk quietly but left footprints that will never fade.