DC National Guard Remembers Former Commander

WASHINGTON DC (WUSA) -- Monday night, friends and family gave a solemn, final salute to Major General David Wherley and his wife Ann.

The retired commanding general of the DC National guard died Monday, June 22, in DC's worst Metro train collision with his wife by his side. Flanked by military brass, the Wherley's son David and daughter Betsy entered the DC National Guard Armory.

Master Sergeant, Dan Jenkins recalls Wherley's service to his country, "He cared about his troops. I used to be in charge of the Honor Guard a few years ago when I was with the DC Air Guard and he definitely cared."

A host of dignitaries spoke about General's Wherley's commitment to his community. Among them, DC Congresswoman, Eleanor Holmes Norton.

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Many recalled how General Wherley scrambled fighter jets to safeguard the Capitol on 9/11. Wherley himself had more than 5,000 flight hours in fighter jets spanning more than three decades.

Steve Hicks was a fellow Wing Commander with the Air National Guard in Virginia, "He was in the F-4 for a while and I think he was an instructor pilot at a weapons school which is a very coveted position. It's kind of the best of the best."

Some attending the Wherley memorial said General David Wherley was more than a warrior, "The youth challenge program; that was his heart and soul." Lt. Col. Marvin Jones says General Wherley spent a great deal of his time pushing for greater funding for youth programs.

On the day the Wherley's were killed, they were on their way home from grief counselor training at Walter Reed hospital.