Scholarship named in honor of late Reserve Airman

MCGUIRE AIR FORCE BASE, N.J. -- Ms. Cynthia Tyler-Mercer, mother of the late Senior Master Sgt. Tracy P. Tyler looks at the plaque that will hang on the wall of the Reserve unit on McGuire Air Force Base, N.J., in the memory of her daughter who died May 1, two weeks after suffering a stroke. Ms. Tyler-Mercer presented Tech. Sgt. Lenthel Drachler $500 Saturday, as the 514th Aeromedical Evaucation Squadron's first recipient of the SMSgt. Tracy P. Tyler Memorial Scholarship. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Donna T. Jeffries)

Scholarship given in honor of late Reserve Airman

MCGUIRE AIR FORCE BASE, N.J. -- Reservist Tech. Sgt. Lenthel Drachler of the 514th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, is presented a plaque and a $500 check Saturday, as the unit's first recipient of the SMSgt. Tracy P. Tyler Memorial Scholarship. Ms. Cynthia Tyler-Mercer, center, is the mother of the late Sergeant Tyler, an Air Reserve Technician who died May 1, two weeks after suffering a stroke.. Aslo pictured is Col. Josephine Almonte, commander, 514th ASTS. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Donna T. Jeffries)

Scholarship given in honor of late Reserve Airman

MCGUIRE AIR FORCE BASE, N.J. -- Ms. Cynthia Tyler-Mercer presents Reservist Tech. Sgt. Lenthel Drachler of the 514th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, $500 Saturday, as the unit's first recipient of the SMSgt. Tracy P. Tyler Memorial Scholarship. Ms. Tyler-Mercer is the mother of the late Sergeant Tyler, an Air Reserve Technician, who died May 1, two weeks after suffering a stroke.. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Donna T. Jeffries)

Scholarship named in honor of late Reserve Airman

Published Dec. 19, 2006
By Master Sgt. Donna T. Jeffries
514th Air Mobility Wing

MCGUIRE AIR FORCE BASE, N.J. -- MCGUIRE AFB, N.J. - The memory of one Reserve Airman at McGuire Air Force Base will live on in her unit, the 514th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, through a scholarship instituted in her name.

Saturday, Tech. Sgt. Lenthel Drachler became the first recipient of the SMSgt. Tracy P. Tyler Memorial Scholarship. His selection was announced during the squadron's commander's call.

"This scholarship means more to me than paying a semester of class," said Sergeant Drachler. who attends Luzerne County Community College in Nanticoke, Pa. "It adds to my memories of our fallen Airman and friend."

Senior Master Sgt. Tracy P. Tyler, a Philadelphia native and senior air reserve technician died May 1, 2006, two weeks after suffering a massive stroke.

The scholarship started in her memory will be awarded annually to a squadron member who meets the eligibility criteria. The scholarship represents Sergeant Tyler's love for education and is meant to assist awardees in achieving their full academic and career potentials said Col. (ret.) John Bozarth, former commander, 514th ASTS.

To honor Saturday's occasion Cynthia Tyler-Mercer, mother of the late Sergeant Tyler, along with immediate family members and friends attended the presentation ceremony and later the unit's Christmas party. Ms. Tyler-Mercer addressed her daughter's peers before presenting Sergeant Drachler with a $500 scholarship.

"This scholarship represents not only the life Tracy shared with us; but also Tracy's goal of progressing. As an aspiring writer, Tracy's determination to achieve her goals is a quality that I'm sure the recipient of this scholarship also possesses," said Ms. Tyler-Mercer. "My family and I appreciate that Tracy's name will be forever remembered.