AFA Honors Veterans

Below is an official statement on behalf of the Air Force Association regarding Veterans Day: 

On Sunday, we honor our nation’s veterans. We deeply appreciate the service and sacrifice of so many. Their valor in wartime and readiness in peacetime respectively earned and preserved our nation’s freedom, along with the security of countless millions in allied nations. In addition, we extend our gratitude to our veterans' families, whose love, courage and support gives strength to the men and women in uniform.

Our nation can never fully repay them for their dedication, but must always take special care to honor our national commitment to their wellbeing and other earned benefits. Today, we simply say ‘thank you.’

Join us at the Air Force Memorial for our annual Veterans Day Memorial Ceremony, November 11, 2012, 11 a.m., One Air Force Memorial Drive, Arlington, VA. 

More information can be found here: http://www.afa.org/media/press/2012/Annual_Veterans_Day_Celebration_at_Air_Force_Memorial.asp

Veterans Day Event at the Air Force Memorial

Each year, AFA and the Air Force Sergeants Association (AFSA) host a Veterans Day Ceremony at the Air Force Memorial. This year's event will take place at 11am, Sunday, November 11. A two-minute moment of silence will be observed to commemorate those members of the U.S. armed forces who were killed during war. During the ceremony, a wreath will be placed at the Memorial in memory and in honor of the veterans of the United States Air Force and its heritage organizations.

This annual event, which is open to the public, is more than just recognition of a national holiday but an opportunity to remember and give honor to all of our nation's veterans for their strength, dedication and sacrifice. It reflects the pride in the heroism of those who died in service to our nation.

Remarks will be given by CMSgt David Popp, USAF (Retired), Deputy CEO of the Air Force Sergeants Association, and Lt General Richard Newton, USAF (Retired), Executive Vice President of the Air Force Association and the Air Force Memorial Foundation.

Please stop by if you can.

Couple wed at Air Force Memorial

Last week, as the nation celebrated its 235^th birthday, a couple from Bowie, Maryland, decided to make the day a special anniversary for them, too. 

Photo Courtesy of the Air Force Memorial

Air Force Master Sergeant Chris Sweet and his new bride Danielle Balmer exchanged their vows on July 4, 2011, beneath the Air Force Memorial, overlooking the nation's capital. Both Sweet’s and Balmer’s background hold a similar tragedy, which ultimately brought them together. Both had lost spouses to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. 

According to a Fox DC article, Air Force Technical Sergeant Ryan Balmer was killed in Iraq four years ago while Jessica Sweet, also an Air Force Technical Sergeant, died from leukemia two years ago after exposure to toxic smoke at burn pits in Afghanistan. Chris and Danielle first met more than two years ago at a program for families whose loved ones died in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Air Force Memorial is a place of great significance to us here at the Air Force Association. It’s also a national place of pride, reverence and remembrance to the many men and women who’ve served this country in the US Air Force and its heritage organization.

Best wishes to the newly-wed couple who started their new life together under the pillars of the Air Force Memorial. We are so very proud and excited to have able to share with them the majesty of our Memorial.  

AFA Celebrates Independence Day

On July 4, 1776, we claimed our independence from Britain and Democracy was born. Patriotic displays and family events are organized throughout the United States in commemoration of this holiday, but today is not just a day to recognize the birth of our nation. It is also a time to reflect on the journey taken to preserve our country’s freedom.

We owe a depth of gratitude to the dedicated generations of heroes who have fought, served and sacrificed in the name of liberty. As we celebrate this Independence Day, we appreciate all the members of our Armed Forces and ask that you remember the many military men and women who continue to ensure our safety at home and abroad.

Our nation has a truly diverse heritage created by and filled with dynamic individuals. As we find this beloved country in harsh economic times, may this holiday continue to serve as a reminder for the great achievements we have made and the hardships we have overcome. It is a time for all of us to come together to celebrate our unity and our heritage.

We at AFA wish everyone a great Fourth of July.

Picture courtesy of the U.S. Air Force

And if you're in the DC area celebrating Independence Day, don't miss out on the 8 PM, pre-fireworks concert by the Air Force Band! Our Air Force Memorial was also mentioned on page 28 of the July 2011 Southern Living Magazine as one of the best "secret spots" to watch the July 4th Fireworks in DC! 

Note from the AFA President: Air Force Band summertime concerts

Air Force Band’s Singing Sergeants and Concert Band
ensembles perform at the Air Force Memorial
as part of the Summer Concert Series June 18.
Photo courtesy of AF.

 

Just a reminder, for those of you who are going to be in the Washington, DC area, that the first of 13 Air Force Band summertime concerts at the national Air Force Memorial commences this Friday, June 3rd.  All of this summer's concerts are on Friday night and start at 8 p.m.  

The featured groups for this Friday are the Concert Band and the Singing Sergeants doing a "Cowboy and Country" theme.  The Air Force Memorial website has a schedule of all the featured groups and themes throughout the summer.

Come out and enjoy these superbly talented musicians performing under the majestic Air Force Memorial spires.  The concerts are free and make for a great family or "date" night!

Air Force Memorial to Host Engraving Ceremony for CMSgt Etchberger

Next week AFA's Air Force Memorial will be hosting an engraving ceremony for Medal of Honor Recipient Chief Master Sergeant Richard L. Etchberger!

On Friday, March 11, 2011, an unveiling ceremony recognizing Etchberger’s name on the Valor, Courage and Sacrifice Wall at the AF Memorial will commence at 10:30 a.m.
[For directions, go here >>>]

Etchberger received the Medal of Honor, the U.S. military's highest decoration, posthumously for his heroic actions in combat on March 11, 1968, during the Vietnam War.

About Etchberger:
As a radar technician, he served at the summit of one of the tallest mountains in Laos, where he and a small team manned a radar station guiding American pilots in the air campaign against North Vietnam.

On March 11, 1968, the site came under attack from North Vietnamese soldiers. Chief Etchberger continued to direct air strikes and call for air rescue on his emergency radio, thus enabling the air evacuation force to locate their position. Etchberger tended to the wounded and fought off the advancing North Vietnamese troops until a rescue helicopter arrived.

Etchberger loaded his wounded men, one by one, each time exposing himself to enemy fire. But as the helicopter headed toward an air base in Thailand, an enemy soldier below fired into the underside of the aircraft, fatally wounding Etchberger. Of those 19 men on the mountain that night, only seven made it out alive. Three of them owed their lives to the actions of Chief Etchberger.

The Medal of Honor was presented to Etchberger's sons by President Obama at a White House ceremony on September 21, 2010.

Back in November 2010, AFA's Air Force Magazine, did an amazing feature on Etchberger. Check it out here: "Etchberger, Medal of Honor"

Please join us for this special ceremony in honor of CMSgt Richard L. Etchberger, for serving above and beyond the call of duty.

*Important Note: Military should be in their uniform of the day while civilians are requested to wear business attire.

AFA Employee Receives Tourism Industry Contribution Award

AFA is proud to congratulate its own Pete Lindquist, managing director of the Air Force Memorial, for receiving the 2010 Tourism Industry Contribution Award. Lindquist, a retired Air Force colonel, was honored on January 11, 2011, with this award by the Guild of Professional Tour Guides of Washington, DC for being "the epitome of customer service” to tour groups of all ages visiting the Air Force Memorial.

Lindquist readily offers information and insights regarding the Memorial and graciously accommodates unexpected groups so all visitors have a memorable experience. One nominator said, "If I knew his source of customer-friendliness I would package it and sell it."

The Guild of Professional Tour Guides of Washington, D.C. is a not-for-profit organization of more than 430 members from varied backgrounds who have experience conducting tours for visitors from all over the world. The Guild prides itself on promoting the highest standards in tour guiding. Each fall, Guild members nominate outstanding professionals for their Tourism Industry Contribution of the Year award.

“I am very humbled and grateful for this honor from the Guild, especially since it is actually the Guild members themselves that tell the story of the Air Force Memorial on an almost daily basis,” Lindquist said. “My assistant and I are part of a great team here at the Air Force Memorial that, along with our professional Guild partners, ensure our guests enjoy their time visiting the Memorial and have a positive memorable experience. Our team truly appreciates this recognition and hopes that our guests continue to take pleasure in our national place of pride, reverence and remembrance for the men and women who served and sacrificed for our country in the Air Force.”

Congratulates, Pete!