Troy Gilbert Elementary School is named after fallen F-16 fighter pilot Maj. Troy Gilbert. He was stationed at Luke Air Force Base when he was killed in action during a mission in Baghdad, Iraq, on Nov. 27, 2006.

The Aviators of Troy Gilbert learned of his sacrifice from his widow, Ginger Gilbert Ravella. She, along with their five children and Gilbert’s parents and extended family, were present at the school for a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Aug. 28.

“I never imagined his 4.5-month deployment would end the way it did,” Gilbert Ravella said. She spoke warmly of her husband’s character and her hope that the students will share his story for generations to come.

“The legacy Troy has left behind will be the legacy left behind in these kids. I’m so grateful. He didn’t become a hero on Nov. 27, 2006. He lived his life heroically,” Gilbert Ravella said. “It keeps his memory alive, not just his memory, but who he was and what he was about.”

Troy Gilbert Elementary is the newest school in the Litchfield Elementary School District. It opened July 30 and serves 600 kindergarten through eighth-grade students. The school is in Waddell at Perryville Road and Glendale Avenue.

School Principal Luke Jankee addressed the student body during the celebration. He encouraged students to live as Gilbert did.

“Maj. Gilbert was a person of character. Those three tenants, those three guiding principles that shaped the way he lived, the way he served, the way he led, was integrity first, service before self and excellence in all we do,” Jankee said.

Choosing “aviator” as the school mascot was intentional, he said.

“As an aviator community, we fly toward the future with courage, teamwork, and high expectations,” Jankee said. “The name aviator is more than a mascot; it’s a symbol. Aviators don’t coast through the skies. They prepare. They learn the route. They work as a team to reach the destination and, like any flight, success requires readiness, character and guidance.”

The ribbon-cutting concluded with a special moment. All eyes were on the sky as pilots from Luke Air Force Base flew in formation high above the campus.

“Most of Troy’s legacy will only be known by the stories that we tell,” Gilbert Ravella said. “We’re so thankful that you’re going to help us share the stories of who he was with the next generation, because I think when someone dies, it’s the stories of who they were that remain.”

Editor's note: Sara Clawson is a communication generalist for the Litchfield Elementary School District.