CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
This Labor Day weekend marks the end of this year's 101 Critical Days of Summer campaign and the unofficial end of summer. With school back in session, many of us are taking advantage of the long weekend with our families. I hope that every Team Charleston member can get out and celebrate the holiday ... SAFELY! I encourage you to use proper risk management, be a good wingman and use teamwork to ensure everyone returns safely.
If you are looking for a family friendly event to celebrate the holiday weekend, then Tops in Blue is a great choice. This free event will be held at the North Charleston Performing Arts Center Aug. 30 at 7:30 p.m. This year, the Tops in Blue tour, entitled "Deja Blue," celebrates 55 years as the Air Force's Expeditionary Entertainers. This active-duty Air Force special unit is made up of 40 vocalists, musicians, dancers, technicians and performers, and promises to be a night to remember.
Another big celebration of our heritage is the Air Force Ball. This year's Air Force Ball will be held at the North Charleston Convention Center Sept. 6. It will commemorate the Air Force's 61st Anniversary, and will highlight the Team Charleston mission and celebrate our Airmen's part in making that mission happen. We listened to your feedback from last year and shortened up the program to permit more socializing. Our guest speaker is Lt. Gen. Vern "Rusty" Findley, current Air Mobility Command vice commander and former Charleston wing commander. It will be an enjoyable evening for everyone. Tickets are still available; contact your unit ticket representative for more information.
Another important event beginning next week is the Combined Federal Campaign kick-off. The CFC is the world's largest annual workplace charity campaign running from Sept. 1 to Nov. 12. The CFC raises millions of dollars each year for local, national and international charities ... a large portion of those donations come from military members. This is another example of how we can make a difference in the world; please join me in giving generously to the charity of your choice.
Another way Team Charleston members can make a difference is by simply voting this election year. Our most cherished and hard-won freedoms are the right of self government, to choose our elected representatives and to hold our government responsible to the people which it serves. Voting is a right we must defend and every one of us should take advantage of that right. As members of the military, we should be knowledgeable on the issues, especially those of foreign policy, we are tasked with supporting. South Carolina law allows voter registration up to 30 days before the election. Check with your home state to obtain voter registration and absentee ballot information, or contact your squadron or group voting assistance advisor for more details.
In closing, thanks again for the hard work that each of you put in daily -- this long weekend is well deserved. Thanks also to our supporting community who made the recent Operational Readiness Inspection Thank You Picnic possible. It was a great morale booster and certainly demonstrated why the Charleston area community is the best in AMC. A heartfelt thank you to our community teammates who contributed ... we look forward to seeing you at Tops in Blue and the Air Force Ball.
We are ... Team Charleston. Take the Fight to the Enemy!