After 50 years in education, the author and documentary executive producer has dedicated the next chapter of her life to preserving two remarkable American military legacies.



LOS ANGELES, CA, November 13, 2026 /24-7PressRelease/ -- When Dr. Raquel "Raqui" Ramsey learned that pioneering World War II aviator Nadine Ramsey would be inducted into the Kansas Aviation Hall of Fame on November 10, she was overcome with emotion.

Nadine was her late husband's sister, but to Raqui, she was also part of a remarkable chapter of American history that deserved to be remembered.

For more than two decades, Raqui has devoted herself to preserving the lives and accomplishments of her husband, Col. Edwin P. Ramsey, 26th Cavalry (PS), and his sister Nadine. The induction represents another meaningful development in a mission that began with a promise to keep their stories alive.

What makes the recognition especially remarkable is how it happened.

According to Raqui, Ben Sauceda, Executive Director of the Kansas Aviation Museum, attended a film premiere featuring Nadine's story and approached her afterward. Impressed by what he had seen, he encouraged her to submit a Hall of Fame nomination.

She did. Nadine was selected.

For Raqui, it was another reminder that sometimes a single person encountering a story can help carry it somewhere entirely unexpected.

Two Lives Worth Remembering

Col. Edwin P. Ramsey, 26th Cavalry (PS), holds a distinctive place in American military history. During World War II, he led what is widely recognized as the last mounted cavalry charge in U.S. Army history before joining the guerrilla resistance against Japanese occupation forces in the Philippines.

His experiences were documented in Lieutenant Ramsey's War and later brought to film through the documentary NEVER SURRENDER: THE ED RAMSEY STORY, with Raqui serving as executive producer.

But Ed wanted his wife to tell another story.

He encouraged her to research Nadine's life, insisting that his sister possessed more courage than he did.

Raqui initially questioned how that could be possible, considering everything her husband had endured. Yet the more she learned, the more she understood his admiration.

Nadine was among the pioneering Women Airforce Service Pilots who flew military aircraft during World War II, including the formidable P-38 Lightning. Her accomplishments came at a time when women faced significant barriers in military aviation.

Raqui spent three years researching and writing Taking Flight: The Nadine Ramsey Story, co-authored with Tricia Aurand. Nadine's experiences were also brought to the screen through the documentary TAKING FLIGHT: THE NADINE RAMSEY STORY.

The documentary premiered on November 16, 2025, at the Simon Wiesenthal Center Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles, where Raqui was photographed alongside actress Jacqueline Bisset.

Both documentaries have also received acceptance for screenings at a New York film festival in November, further extending the reach of these remarkable stories.

A New Mission After Five Decades in Education

Raqui spent 50 years in education, including a lengthy career with the Beverly Hills Unified School District.

Following Ed's death and her retirement, she found herself entering a chapter she never anticipated.

She became an author, historical researcher, archivist, and executive producer, working with museums, military organizations, and educational institutions to introduce new audiences to these remarkable lives.

She also helped establish scholarships, preserve historical artifacts, and organize screenings where audiences could learn about the experiences of an earlier generation.

The personal commitment has been considerable, but Raqui has never regarded recognition for herself as the objective.

"It's not so important to know me," she explained in a recent conversation, describing her role as the person behind the camera helping others remain visible.

Her greatest satisfaction comes from young people who encounter Ed's story through his book or receive scholarships established in his honor.

Some have written to thank her. Others have expressed a desire to follow his example.

After half a century in the classroom, Raqui is still educating. Only now, her classroom extends into museums, military gatherings, film screenings, and the lives of people she may never meet.

A Legacy That Continues Beyond One Generation

Nadine's November 10 induction in Wichita carries special meaning because it recognizes a woman whose achievements helped expand opportunities for future generations of female aviators.

The occasion will also bring together members of the Ramsey family and relatives whose personal connections to Ed and Nadine span generations.

Among them is Barbara Stunz, 105, a cousin of Ed and Nadine, who hopes to attend the celebration. While her attendance remains uncertain, her daughter, Jeanette Powell, and the Powell family, who reside in Wichita, are expected to be present.

Also attending will be Col. Edwin P. Ramsey, son of Ed Ramsey, and his wife, Monica Ramsey.

Their presence underscores the deeply personal significance of the occasion, bringing together family members who continue to honor and preserve the accomplishments of those who came before them.

Other opportunities continue to emerge, including military screenings and new interest in the documentaries.

For Raqui, now 80, those developments reinforce something she has learned through years of preserving history: the work does not necessarily end when the person who began it steps away.

A museum can introduce the story to another audience. A student can discover a book. Someone attending a screening can recognize its importance and open an entirely new door.

That is precisely what happened with Nadine's Hall of Fame nomination.

Raqui has spent years ensuring that two extraordinary lives would not disappear from public memory.

Now, as Nadine receives another well-deserved honor, the stories Raqui has worked so diligently to preserve are finding new people willing to carry them forward.

About Dr. Raquel R. Ramsey

Dr. Raquel "Raqui" Ramsey is a retired educator, author, historical preservation advocate, and documentary executive producer. Following a 50-year career in education, she has dedicated her efforts to preserving the legacies of her late husband, Col. Edwin P. Ramsey, 26th Cavalry (PS), and his sister, pioneering WWII aviator Nadine Ramsey. Her work includes books, documentaries, museum collaborations, and educational scholarships.

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