McConnell celebrates 60th Anniversary during Air Force Ball

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Justin Shelton
  • 22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. --  The Air Force Ball was held Sept. 15 in downtown Wichita at the Century II convention center. With the efforts of multiple volunteers, a huge event with over 720 in attendance was presented without a hitch. The ball commemorated the 60th Anniversary of the Air Force.

The event also had a cake cutting ceremony, awards, a live band, dancing, and ceremonies held by the base honor guard.

After formal introductions were made, the base honor guard proceeded to Post the Colors, while the Voices of McConnell sang the national anthem. Immediately following the anthem the men and women who have fallen or gone missing in combat were remembered by a POW/MIA ceremony performed by the base honor guard.

As the honor guard marched off the floor, Wing Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Mike Williams gave the invocation. After toasts and welcoming remarks from the masters of ceremony, Maj. Hund and Chief Master Sgt. Pritchett, Maj. Gen. Roggero presented the Fisher Award to Golden Eagle Keith Lesher, president of the Friends of McConnell, and Golden Eagles Jack Pulley and Bob Dool. The Zachary and Elizabeth Fisher Distinguished Civilian Humanitarian Award is designated to recognize individuals and/or organizations demonstrating exceptional patriotism and humanitarian concern for Members of the United States Armed Forces or their families. With the majority of the night's formalities over, dinner was served just prior to the cake cutting ceremony.

Honor guard members escorted Gen. Ford and Airman Juvian Marquez out to the floor, presented them with sabers and the cakes were cut. As a time honored tradition in the Air Force Gen. Ford and
Airman Marquez, represented the highest and lowest ranking Airmen in attendance and symbolized past and present generations of Airmen. After much cheering and a small intermission the guest speaker was introduced.

Ambassador Bremer the guest speaker spoke on the topic of terrorism. "The type of terrorism we face today is different from that which we faced in the 60s, 70s, and 80s. These men are willing to die for their cause" said Ambassador Bremer. Bremer spoke for an hour about the condition of Iraq when he was last there, and all the plans he put into effect in order to help the Iraqi people.

Moments after the Ambassador received a standing ovation, Col. John Zazworsky, acting 22nd Air Refueling Wing Commander, gave his closing remarks and presented Ambassador Bremer with three coins and a tail flash of a KC-135 Stratotanker. Afterward he ended the evening's ceremonies and everyone was invited to dance to the live band.

The 60th Anniversary Air Force Ball, was an event celebrating a heritage of over 80 years ago when Airman Billy Mitchell said "For us air people, the future of our nation is indissolubly bound in the development of air power". That voice from the past conveys a concept still held by Airmen of today. The Air Force Ball celebrated the effort of Airmen past, present, and future, that cling to that heritage with their eyes focused on the horizon.