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Deployed service members celebrate 64 years of Air Force heritage

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Eric Summers Jr.
  • 379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  Members of the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing celebrated the Air Force's 64th birthday in grand style, Sept. 18, at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia.

More than 200 service members attended an Air Force birthday celebration dinner where Chaplain (Col.) Dondi Costin, U.S. Air Forces Central Command chaplain, served as guest speaker.

The chaplain focused on the celebration's theme of honoring the past, present and future of combat air power.

"We're indebted to airpower heroes going back decades before the U.S. Air Force was born," he said. "We stand on the shoulders of giants, and it's our turn to dream big dreams and do great things so future generations can experience the freedom we sometimes take for granted."

"When children think of birthday parties, they focus almost exclusively on themselves and what they can get," he added. "But as people mature, they focus more and more on what they can give. Reminding ourselves of what Airmen can give to others is what this Air Force birthday party is really all about."

The event included several service traditions designed to honor both those who served in the past and those whose careers are still on the horizon.

One such tradition saw the oldest and youngest Airmen in attendance cut an Air Force birthday cake. There was also a prisoners of war/missing in action ceremony to remember those service members who have yet to return home

"The most interesting part to me was the [58-year-old] lieutenant colonel getting up there to cut the cake with the youngest Airman," said Senior Airman Catrina Watson, 379th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, who is deployed from Robins Air Force Base, Ga. "Seeing the age difference and seeing the future and the ones that led the way for us together."

At the front of the room was a single table with four empty plates and chairs where service hats were placed to commemorate the POW and MIA from each branch. There was a silent toast to honor them and the efforts to account for them.

Following the POW/MIA ceremony, enlisted Airmen received the chance to reenlist or reaffirm their oaths of enlistment into the Armed Forces.

"We have never needed your leadership more than we do right now. With your leadership, with the leadership of this crowd here, with everybody in this room I am absolutely convinced that there is nothing we can't do," said Maj. Gen. James Jones, USAFCENT deputy commander. "It's a pleasure, it's an honor to serve alongside you. Thanks for being in our Air Force.

"To all of you; thanks for your service, your sacrifice, your dedication, what you do on a daily basis and thank you to your families that are serving with us and are sacrificing while we're gone. They are every bit as much in this fight as we are," the general added.

The USAFCENT band "Top Cover" also performed during the event. The USAFCENT band is the first permanently assigned Air Force Band to the Central Command Area of Responsibility. Based in Southwest Asia, Top Cover is composed of active-duty Airmen deployed from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska.

"I think it's an honor that we were invited to play. I think the whole experience of being here is just an honor," said Staff Sgt. Amber Grimes, Top Cover lead singer and Columbus, Ga., native.

The birthday celebration events began a day earlier, Sept. 17, with a half marathon and 10K run scheduled to coincide with the 15th Annual Air Force Marathon held the same day, at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. This marks the 5th year that the U.S. Air Force has conducted races at overseas deployed locations.

The top finishers of the race were:

Maj. Janelle Koch, Combined Forces Special Operations Command, was the top female finisher in the 10K race. The Selah, Wash., native deployed from Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., finished the race in 44:20.

Capt. Joseph Harris, 379th Expeditionary Force Support Squadron, was the top male finisher in the 10K. The Elkhorn, Wis., native, deployed from Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., finished the race in 41:06.

Capt. Matt Hellier, 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, was the top male finisher in the half marathon. The Modesto, Calif., native, deployed from Charleston Air Force Base, S.C., finished the race in 1:20:36.

Staff Sgt. Rendi Everhart, 379th Expeditionary Air Command and Control Squadron, was the top female finisher in the half marathon. The Indianapolis, Ind., native, deployed from Robins Air Force Base, Ga., finished the race in 1:47:26.

The first official Air Force marathon was held Sept. 20, 1997, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Air Force. Since then the race is held the third Saturday in September each year in celebration of the U.S. Air Force birthday.

Since the separation of the U.S. Air Force from the U.S. Army, the branch has strived and maintained air superiority throughout its history. Airmen have demonstrated their capabilities through various conflicts ranging from Vietnam to Operation Enduring Freedom and continue to display air power in the war against terrorism, according to Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley, who issued a birthday message Sept. 15.

"Today, America's Airmen continue to build upon a tremendous heritage of integrity, service, and excellence," he said. "On this -- and every -- day, we express sincere gratitude for your service and sacrifice and that of your families. Your dedication to mission and devotion to duty are unparalleled in equal measure to the full range of vital air, space and cyber capabilities that we provide to our joint and coalition teammates and to the nation."

"As we work together in building an even brighter tomorrow, please join us in proudly celebrating the 64th birthday of the United States Air Force. As always, we sincerely thank you and your families for all that you do," he added.