Lt. Cmdr. Eric Allen Cranford '92 lost his life while serving in the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001. Twenty years later, his spirit of generosity and determination lives on through a scholarship created in his memory. https://t.co/OoRaiSCG6M #CampaignNCState https://t.co/JRdSxRj9da
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Lt.Cmdr. Eric Allen Cranford '92 and Memorial Scholarship
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Last: 7 mo ago by Wolfer79
Lt. Cmdr. Eric Cranford is a classmate of mine; we began in NROTC in 1987. Eric & I were friends; not close but certainly enjoyed NROTC events together. Eric was an outstanding Midshipman during his time at NC State. Eric also never missed an NC State Football game & went to most basketball games. In those days, NROTC cleaned up Carter Finley after each home football game, I remember discussing many football results with him during those Sunday Stadium cleanups.
Eric always aspired to become a Naval Aviator & was selected for Aviation training when he graduated in 1992. He earned his wings as a Naval Aviator & became a skilled Helicopter pilot deploying to the Persian Gulf during his first tour.
Lt. Cmdr. Cranford was Killed in Action at the Pentagon on September 11th, 2001. Eric is buried at Arlington National Cemetery with full honors. Fair Winds & Following Seas. Until we meet again.
Remember Eric & all of the others we lost on 9/11/2001.
Also consider our Freedom however challenging is never Free.
Eric always aspired to become a Naval Aviator & was selected for Aviation training when he graduated in 1992. He earned his wings as a Naval Aviator & became a skilled Helicopter pilot deploying to the Persian Gulf during his first tour.
Lt. Cmdr. Cranford was Killed in Action at the Pentagon on September 11th, 2001. Eric is buried at Arlington National Cemetery with full honors. Fair Winds & Following Seas. Until we meet again.
Remember Eric & all of the others we lost on 9/11/2001.
Also consider our Freedom however challenging is never Free.
Wolfpack91, thank you for sharing your memories of Eric.
https://news.giving.ncsu.edu/2021/09/not-self-but-others/
Lt. Cmdr. Eric Allen Cranford '92 lost his life while serving in the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001. Twenty years later, his spirit of generosity and determination lives on through a scholarship created in his memory.
And it certainly did. Thanks to his time in ROTC, Eric was commissioned an ensign in the U.S. Navy after graduating from NC State.
Eric was promoted from ensign to lieutenant junior grade in 1994 and then to lieutenant in 1996. He and Emily later moved to Washington, D.C., so he could continue serving with the Navy while stationed at the Pentagon.
Per his wishes, Eric was buried at Arlington Cemetery (Section 64, Site 4866) with full military honors on Oct. 20, 2001, and he was posthumously promoted by the Navy to lieutenant commander. He was 32 years old.
The scholarship, which has been generously supported by Eric's family, friends and many other individuals and organizations over the years, is intended for Burke County residents studying at NC State who demonstrate high academic merit. Recipients must be in the top 10% of their high school graduating class and be nominated by their high school's guidance department. After they receive the scholarship, students must maintain full-time enrollment (at least 12 credit hours per semester) and a 3.0 cumulative GPA while pursuing their first degree in an undergraduate program.
The Eric A. Cranford Endowed Scholarship has been awarded 14 times to date, benefiting five students in total, as several of them received it multiple years
The resulting monument, located in Valdese, North Carolina, features a column representing Eric in the center of a concrete pentagon that commemorates all who were lost in the attack. A bronze plaque atop the column bears a tribute to Eric's life, as well as a piece of the rubble from the Pentagon.
Lt. Cmdr. Eric Allen Cranford '92 lost his life while serving in the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001. Twenty years later, his spirit of generosity and determination lives on through a scholarship created in his memory.
And it certainly did. Thanks to his time in ROTC, Eric was commissioned an ensign in the U.S. Navy after graduating from NC State.
Eric was promoted from ensign to lieutenant junior grade in 1994 and then to lieutenant in 1996. He and Emily later moved to Washington, D.C., so he could continue serving with the Navy while stationed at the Pentagon.
Per his wishes, Eric was buried at Arlington Cemetery (Section 64, Site 4866) with full military honors on Oct. 20, 2001, and he was posthumously promoted by the Navy to lieutenant commander. He was 32 years old.
The scholarship, which has been generously supported by Eric's family, friends and many other individuals and organizations over the years, is intended for Burke County residents studying at NC State who demonstrate high academic merit. Recipients must be in the top 10% of their high school graduating class and be nominated by their high school's guidance department. After they receive the scholarship, students must maintain full-time enrollment (at least 12 credit hours per semester) and a 3.0 cumulative GPA while pursuing their first degree in an undergraduate program.
The Eric A. Cranford Endowed Scholarship has been awarded 14 times to date, benefiting five students in total, as several of them received it multiple years
The resulting monument, located in Valdese, North Carolina, features a column representing Eric in the center of a concrete pentagon that commemorates all who were lost in the attack. A bronze plaque atop the column bears a tribute to Eric's life, as well as a piece of the rubble from the Pentagon.
Rest in Peace
LCDR Eric Cranford
Fair Winds & Following Seas
LCDR Eric Cranford
Fair Winds & Following Seas
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