National Prayer Breakfast

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Chaplain (Brig. Gen.) Cecil Richardson, Air Force Deputy Chief of Chaplains, speaks to more than 150 U.S. and coalition forces at the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing chapel during the National Prayer Breakfast March 18, 2008. The chaplain was the guest speaker for the breakfast and took time to visit with Airmen at their work centers during a tour of the base located in the Persian Gulf Region supporting the Global War on Terror. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Tech. Sgt. Michael O'Connor)

National Prayer Breakfast

Chaplain (Brig. Gen.) Cecil Richardson, Air Force Deputy Chief of Chaplains, speaks to Airmen deployed to the 386th Medical Group's Contingency Aero-Medical Staging Facility during his visit to the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing, at an air base in the Persian Gulf Region. The general traveled to the wing to visit deployed Airmen and participate as the guest speaker at the wing's National Prayer Breakfast. The CASF is a staging facility with personnel and equipment ready for aeromedical evacuation of ill or wounded U.S. military servicemembers, coalition forces and civilian contract personnel en-route from forward operating locations to medical centers in the European theater and the continental U.S. (U.S. Air Force illustration/Capt. Jason McCree

General brings spiritual message to deployed Airmen

Published March 20, 2008
By Capt. Jason McCree
386th Air Expeditionary Wing public affairs

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- "A first sergeant would say it's all about the Airmen - this is also true for the chaplain."

Chaplain (Brig. Gen.) Cecil Richardson, Air Force Deputy Chief of Chaplains, spoke these words during his visit to the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing, located in the Persian Gulf Region on March 18.

The chaplain traveled to the air base to participate in the wing's annual National Prayer Breakfast and interact with Airmen who are deployed for the Global War on Terrorism.

"The National Prayer Breakfast is ... an opportunity for Americans to demonstrate what it means when our Constitution says we can freely exercise our faith," said the chaplain, who assists the Air Force Chief of Chaplains in overseeing a corps of more than 2,200 Air Force chaplains and chaplain assistants. "It is a time to bring (many faiths) together and say 'We are all Americans."

He was the guest speaker during the breakfast, delivering a message on the United States national motto: 'In God We Trust.'

"Many did not know this is our national motto," said Chaplain Richardson, who has been selected to pin his second star on in May and take the seat as the Air Force's most senior-ranking chaplain. "Our nation was founded by religious people, and it will be preserved by people who have a commitment to free exercise of religion."

During his time here, he visited Airmen at the work centers throughout the wing including Explosive Ordinance Disposal, the Contingency Aero-Medical Staging Facility, Security Forces and the flightline.

"Chaplain Richardson's visit to troops (here) reminded us that we all are crucially important to God and to our nation," said Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Bruce Arnold, 386th AEW chaplain. "And his concern for all who he met was a huge morale booster."

"When I got around the Airmen, I got fired up," said Chaplain Richardson. "I received briefings, saw what they do on the job, and it renewed my faith and excitement about being in the military. It is an honor to wear the same uniform that those young people are wearing."

Before departing the air base, he discussed the contributions that chaplains make to help accomplish the Air Force mission.

"The chaplain spends time behind closed doors with people helping marriages, relationships and those who may need help with their faith," said the chaplain. "When that Airman comes back to their unit they'll be a better Airman. This will positively impact the entire unit - that's what chaplains do."