The Old Independence Regional Museum will be hosting Rick Finley Day on May 20, from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. to commemorate the day 34 years ago when Finley, a special agent of the United States Drug Enforcement Agency, lost his life in the line of duty. Finley was on a special assignment in the upper Huluga Valley region of Peru as part of a joint United States and Peruvian Anti-Drug Force tasked with the destruction of cocaine labs.
A dedicated law enforcement officer, Finley gave his life in service to his country. In the summer of 1989, he was once again deployed to Peru on the second year of this mission. Due to the increased activity of anti-government Communist guerrillas in the Huluga Valley, the Agents were no longer safe to lodge in the Peruvian village Tingo Maria, where they were based the previous year. As a result, they were flown back and forth from Lima to the area of operations.
On May 20, 1989, the aircraft Rick Finley was on disappeared. The aircraft was later located in the rugged terrain of the Andes Mountains, and nobody aboard survived the crash. The victims included Peruvian Military and U.S. personnel. In addition to the loss of Rick Finley, two other residents of Arkansas were on board the aircraft.
To honor Rick Finley’s legacy, a proclamation by Mayor Rick Elumbaugh declaring May 20 as Rick Finley Day in Batesville will be read by an official on Saturday, May 20. Visitors and friends of Rick Finley are invited to view an exhibit about Finley, his life, and his death in service to his country at the Old Independence Regional Museum.
This event is open to the public, and all are welcome to attend. The Old Independence Regional Museum is located at 380 S. 9th St., in Batesville.
For more information, please visit the museum’s website at www.oirm.org.
Image of Finley via DEA Museum
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