'Legends of Aerospace' inspires Airmen

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Nicholas Mercurio
  • 22nd Air Refueling Wing public affairs
MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, KAN. --  As an unassuming man with wispy white hair and glasses walked into a room, the crowd of uniformed personnel turned expectantly toward the door.

"Hi, I'm Neil Armstrong," the man said in a soft voice and smiled.

"Oh yes sir, we know," came the reply. "Welcome to Ramstein."

Organized by Armed Forces Entertainment in association with Morale Entertainment Foundation, Inc., the Legends of Aerospace Tour offered a once in a lifetime opportunity for U. S. armed forces servicemembers to meet and interact with pioneers in aviation and space travel. The tour made its first stop at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, March 5, before continuing to Turkey, England, and various locations across Southwest Asia, concluding March 14 in New York.

Mr. Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon, doing so in 1969, was followed quickly by Retired Navy Capt. Gene Cernan, who left the final footprints on the moon in 1972. They were joined by Retired Navy Capt. Jim Lovell, commander of Apollo 13; Bob Gilliland, famed test pilot and the first man to fly the SR-71 Blackbird, Retired Brig. Gen. Steve Ritchie, the last Air Force "Ace" and David Hartman, the original host of "Good Morning America." Together, these men constituted the Legends of Aerospace Tour.

"It was an extraordinary honor to be in their presence," said 2nd Lt. John D. Prince, 86th Mission Support Squadron, Ramstein AB, Germany. "It's something I will never forget."

It was apparent that the honor was equally shared from the first time the legends appeared on-stage before a packed NCO Academy auditorium.

"These are the real legends here," Mr. Cernan said, referring to the Airmen seated in the audience.

The program opened with an introductory video providing a brief background on each participant followed by a discussion mediated by Mr. Hartman. In a live-talk-show format, Mr. Hartman brought the audience inside the lives of each of these men.

As the "legends" spoke, members of the audience reminisced about their memories of early space travel.

"I was 8-years-old, lying on the carpet in Texas when Apollo 11 [the mission during which Neil Armstrong first walked on the moon] landed," said Brig. Gen. Mark Dillon, 86th Airlift Wing commander, Ramstein AB, Germany. "Seeing these guys in person was the opportunity of a lifetime."

When questioned about why the group had taken on the tour, Mr. Ritchie recalled the importance of recognizing servicemembers in today's fight.

"We are here to show our appreciation and support," Mr. Ritchie said. "The job that these young men and women are doing is so vital because nothing is more noble or more important than defending the freedom of the American people."

David Hartman found his experience at the Landstuhl Area Regional Medical Center particularly moving. "I met a young man who lost both his legs to an IED [improvised explosive device]. He can't go back to combat but the nurses said he wanted to. That's above and beyond the call of duty."

As the tour arrived in Turkey, some members were apprehensive that political undertones would cloud the reception of the tour. However, when the legends arrived at their first speaking engagement at Cukurova University, it was clear the reaction would be quite the opposite.

"You would have thought we were rock stars," Mr. Ritchie said. "It was incredible."

After the university, the "legends" held another program in front of a capacity audience at the Incirlik Officer's Club. The large crowds would become a staple of the tour. At Mildenhall AB, England, the venue was full with more than 400 people waiting outside.

Instead of turning them away, the "legends" agreed to have another program immediately following the scheduled one.

The importance of expanding the programs was addressed by Mr. Hartman, "It's a privilege to be able to say 'thank you,'" he said. "In the 1960s the challenge was the USSR. We had to win the space race for the future of America. Today the challenge is terrorism and for the future of America we have to win that one too."

"You're asked to do more with less," Mr. Ritchie said, "and the risk is high."

Risk is something these men were familiar with, but as Bob Gilliland put it, "[When you do something] if there isn't a chance you can be killed, it's not worth doing."

These men made history, but as they told each audience, it wasn't accomplished alone. "Teamwork is the glue which holds any organization together," Mr. Lovell said.

Whether it was, as Mr. Armstrong put it, 400,000 people working for a decade to fulfill a promise made by the president, or as Mr. Ritchie characterized it, thousands working in support roles to make the difference between living and dying in combat in the skies over Vietnam, many individuals contributed to their success. 

The "legends" stood on the shoulders of giants and achieved greatness during troubled times, said Mr. Cernan. He added that it is now their turn to provide the shoulders for this generation to stand on.

To view the slideshow, click here.