The “Getaway Gertie” commemoration will go on rain or shine on Saturday, June 24. The event honoring the lost airmen of the B-24 Liberator bomber is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. in Breitbeck Park on Lake Street in Oswego.

In the event of rain, the public tribute will be moved inside the McCrobie Building, 41 Lake St., Oswego.

New York State Air National Guard’s 174th Attack Wing Honor Guard will conduct the opening ceremony and Oswego County Administrator Philip Church will emcee the event.

The program will include a welcome from Oswego City Mayor Billy Barlow, an invocation with Oswego County American Legion Chaplain Debi VanSlyke and a wreath-unveiling with bugler Corey King from Fort Ontario State Historic Site.  

Following the ceremony, a distinguished panel of speakers will pay tribute to the lost air crew. They include federal, state and local representatives, along with Bill Crist, chairman of the advisory council for the proposed Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary.

Of note, Tom Wilber, author of “Vanishing Point: The Search for a B-24 Bomber Crew Lost on the World War II Home Front,” will take the podium to tell the story of “Getaway Gertie.” Joining him will be a representative of the descendants of one of the crewmen.

Weather permitting, the Commemorative Air Force is scheduled to pay homage to the “Getaway Gertie” crew by performing a fly-over with the last remaining B-24 bomber in the world still flying today.

The event is sponsored by Oswego County, the city of Oswego and the proposed Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council.

For more information about the “Getaway Gertie” commemoration, call 315-349-8235. To learn more about the proposed Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary, go to https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/lake-ontario/.