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Charleston community wins Abilene Trophy for base support

  • Published
  • By Rose Alexander
  • 437th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. --  The Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce and the Charleston community were selected as this year's recipients of the Abilene Trophy for outstanding civilian community support to Charleston Air Force Base during 2007.

The Abilene Trophy, established in 1998 by the Military Relations Committee of the Abilene, Texas, Chamber of Commerce, is awarded annually to the community in Air Mobility Command that is most supportive of the local Air Force base.

The announcement was made March 27 at the AMC Spring Commanders' Conference (Phoenix Rally) at MacDill AFB, Fla.

Col. John "Red" Millander, 437th Airlift Wing commander, expressed his enthusiasm at hearing the news in a congratulatory e-mail that he sent to the 437 AW Honorary Commanders, Advisory Council and other community leaders. "Congratulations to our great civic support team ... I couldn't be prouder," he wrote.

Formally known as the Air Mobility Community Support Award, the Abilene Trophy has been awarded 10 times to five different communities since its establishment in 1998. The Charleston community has been the recipient of this award three times since 2002, the only AMC base to accomplish this feat.

"Our local community has a long tradition of providing exceptional support to the Airmen of Charleston AFB," said Colonel Millander. "The members of Team Charleston, active-duty, Reservists and civilians, have forged a strong partnership with our civilian community, and we are extremely thrilled that they received this well-deserved recognition for being the most supportive community in all of AMC."

Mary Graham, Senior Vice President for Public Policy, Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce, who was the driving force in compiling the documentation and submitting the award package, also expressed her excitement at receiving this recognition.

"The Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce is very excited about the award," said Ms. Graham. "Charleston AFB is a vital part of national defense and the tri-country area. We have always had a strong relationship between the base and the community, and this award just confirms it. We are extremely proud to be the first AMC community to win it three times."

Two representatives of the Abilene Chamber of Commerce will formally present the traveling Abilene Trophy to the Charleston community at the Chamber's annual Armed Forces Dinner May 1. The trophy will be displayed for one year at the Chamber's main office in North Charleston. At the end of the year, it will be given to next year's winner. The Chamber will then receive a miniature replica of the trophy which will be displayed permanently along with those they won in 2002 and 2005.