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Fairchild Ball remembers, celebrates Air Force heritage

  • Published
  • By Capt. Jason McCree
  • 92nd ARW Public Affairs
FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  Team Fairchild commemorated the Air Force's 59th birthday Saturday with a ball themed "Lasting heritage...Limitless horizons."

The event, which drew more than 500 people representing Fairchild and the local community, was held in the historic Building 2050, hangars 2 and 4.

"Under this (hangar's) roof literally thousands of P-51s and B-17s returned from the Pacific Theater during World War II to be serviced and repaired at the Spokane Army Air Depot," said Col. Scott Hanson, 92nd Air Refueling Wing commander. "You can almost feel the pioneering spirit of those visionaries that paved the way for the birth and growth of our Air Force..."

The event began at 6 p.m. with music by the Washington Air National Guard Band of the Northwest, roses for female guests, tours of the many historical displays, and a KC-135R Stratotanker static aircraft.

Additionally, the program included recognition of distinguished guests, an invocation, toasts, a tribute to POWs and MIAs, a cake-cutting ceremony and comments from the 92nd ARW commander.

Among the guests attending were U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris and her husband, retired Navy Commander Brian Rodgers; Airway Heights mayor Matthew Pederson and his wife, Lisa; Reardan mayor Sherman Johnson and his guest, Dawn Sommers; Deer Park mayor Robert Whisman and his daughter, Samantha; Spokane City Council president Joe Shogan and his wife, Maureen; Spokane Valley mayor Diana Wilhite and her husband, Rick; and representatives of Operation Spokane Heroes, Forward Fairchild and the Spokane Regional Chamber of Commerce Armed Services Committee.

The Air Force Ball cake was ceremoniously cut with a saber by the most junior enlisted person present, Airman Warren Binyard, 93rd Air Refueling Squadron, and the wing's senior ranking active-duty officer, Colonel Hanson.

During his comments Colonel Hanson honored the veterans in attendance. Beginning with the World War II veterans, he asked the veterans to stand as he named each successive American conflict in which they had participated. By the time he ended with Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom, nearly every retired and active service member in the hangar was standing.

The formal event concluded with a rendition of "God Bless the U.S.A." by Master Sgt. Jay Nordling, Washington Air National Guard, and then singing of the Air Force Song by all in attendance.

Wingspan, the Band of the Northwest's rock and roll combo, played dance music for the remainder of the evening.