CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
A heartfelt thank you goes out to all those who participated in and especially to those who organized the events commemorating the POW/MIA Recognition Day. This day honors the commitment and the sacrifice made by Prisoners of War and to focus our attention to those who remain Missing in Action. Beginning with the 24-hour run and ending with a formal retreat ceremony all the events displayed the precision and reliability for which Team Charleston is renowned. The POW luncheon was a rare opportunity to meet former military members with distinctive and compelling stories whose contributions are sometimes overlooked in history. I hope that many Team Charleston members took advantage of the opportunity to meet and interact with these veterans.
Congratulations are also due to all those Team Charleston members who worked tirelessly to make the Air Force Ball a success. The challenges they faced were many, not the least of which was an impending hurricane! Their labors come to fruition tomorrow night as we celebrate the 61st anniversary of the Air Force. The sixth decade of service as a separate military department began with many changes and challenges to face and as we celebrate our heritage we should look forward to how the changes we make today will influence our Air Force tomorrow.
The words of our first secretary, Stuart Symington said "the destiny of the United States rests on the continued development of our Air Force" ring just as true today. The common heritage we share reflects the everyday efforts of all who have gone before us. Just as every Airman from the past helped shape the Air Force we know today, your efforts will shape the Air Force in the future. I look forward to celebrating our heritage and our future with you tomorrow night!
Oct. 6 is German-American Day. The holiday commemorates the date in 1683 when 13 German families from Krefeld near the Rhine landed in Philadelphia. In 1983, President Ronald Reagan proclaimed Oct. 6 as German-American Day as a way to celebrate and honor the 300th anniversary of German American culture in the United States. To Airmen, and especially Airlifters, it serves as a reminder of the Berlin Airlift. As a defining event in Air Force history the Berlin Airlift demonstrated the resolve of the United States not to bow to Soviet aggression, support an ally and further demonstrated airlift's capability to any who doubted. Airmen of the newly created Air Force moved more than 2 million tons of food and supplies into the besieged city with methodical precision, one take-off about every 90 seconds, 850 flights per day.
Today, Air Mobility Command carries on that tradition of Service Before Self tenacity displayed by our predecessors. Airlift's recent humanitarian efforts in Georgia and in the face of Hurricanes Ike and Gustav serve to illustrate the vital ongoing mission we as Airlifters are challenged with. Then, as now, your efforts are vital, the challenges significant, the "send me" spirit that typified the Berlin Airlift also typifies the spirit of Team Charleston to Fly, Fight and Win every day.
Team Charleston - Take the Fight to the Enemy!