AURORA, Colorado --
“Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it on to our children in our bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.”
-President Ronald Reagan
Civilian and military members of the Headquarters Individual Reservist Readiness and Integration Organization staff held a Wingman Day event with 27 World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War Air Force veterans at the Heather Gardens Active Adult Community, Aurora, Colorado, April 8.
The theme of the luncheon event was “Who inspires you? Who will you inspire?” and the HQ RIO staff was able to talk with, and learn from, the Airmen who helped make the Air Force what it is today.
The organization also celebrated the Air Force Reserve’s 67th Birthday.
Ms. Denise Kester, HQ RIO Key Spouse, kicked off the event with a Prisoner of War, Missing in Action table ceremony and four videos (YouTube playlist) highlighted the Air Force’s heritage.
Following the videos, Col. Christopher E. Cronce, HQ RIO commander, addressed the attendees. In his comments, Cronce discussed the importance of wingman day to building resiliency, esprit de corps and reinforcing the wingman culture in which Airmen take care of Airmen. He also encouraged his Airmen to draw inspiration from the veterans who were in attendance.
“As I look around the room, to those of you who are part of HQ RIO, please know that we are in the presence of heroes. Without their sacrifices, and the sacrifices of those who served with them, we would not be gathered here today,” he said.
Following the presentations, lunch was served, and the HQ RIO staff had the opportunity to talk with the veterans.
Master Sgt. Melinda Wilkins, of the HQ RIO readiness office, ate with Ms. Patricia Hamburg, an Air Force nurse in the 1950s, who was discharged after her first child was born.
Wilkins and Hamburg engaged in dynamic conversation throughout the lunch and discussed the many differences between serving as a woman in the 1950s and in today’s Air Force. Both Airmen came away with a new perspective on the service of women in the Air Force.
“It was amazing to talk to her and learn the differences in the culture,” said Wilkins. “She told me she got out of the Air Force to start a family. Back then women were discharged at that time.”
Wilkins, in turn, shared with Hamburg about how she came into the Air Force as a married woman who already had a family; a big difference that amazed and pleased Hamburg.
“I think it’s wonderful. I know they’re enjoying it and they’re giving great service to our country,” said Hamburg.
Another member of the HQ RIO team in attendance was Mr. Jason Slagle, a military pay technician. As a civilian employee, Slagle was not required to attend wingman day but chose to “because the opportunity to interact with veterans who paved the way,” was an opportunity he couldn’t pass up.
Slagle dined with Mr. Charles Duvall, a World War II and Korean War vet who enlisted after his brother was killed at Pearl Harbor. During their conversations, Slagle and Duvall found they had served in many of the same locations, including Korea and the panhandle of Florida.
“It was awesome that we were able to connect at that level,” said Slagle.
Following the lunch, Airmen old and young celebrated the Air Force Reserve’s 67th birthday with cake. In keeping with the tradition of having the oldest and youngest Airman cut the cake, Slagle joined Lt. Col. (retired) Robert W. Elliot, a 95 year-old retired Airman who originally enlisted as an artilleryman in 1938, in the ceremony.
The Air Force Reserve was created as a separate component on April 14, 1948, when the Army Air Corps Reserve transferred to the Air Force. The Air Force Reserve’s lineage dates back 99 years, to 1916 when the Reserve was signed into the NDAA.
The Individual Reserve program, now overseen by HQ RIO, began at the same time, when Lt. Gen. George E. Stratemeyer, the first commander of the Air Force Reserve (then known as Continental Air Command), began using Reserve Airmen as Mobilization Assignees to augment the staff at Headquarters Air Force.
Today’s Air Force Reserve, built in part on the shoulders of the veterans who attended the wingman day, is a combat-ready force, composed of more than 67,000 Citizen Airmen, serving around the United States and across the globe at every Combatant Command in air, space and cyberspace.
After cake and conversation, the group of Airmen and veterans rounded out the occasion by convening outside for a group photograph around an Air Force Reserve commemorative birthday banner.
The Wingman Day event was an inspiring opportunity for both the HQ RIO staff and the veterans who attended. For Slagle, the lunch helped him realize that, regardless of age, every Airman has played a part in making the Air Force what it is today.
Wilkins added that the chance to learn from Hamburg and the other veterans was a valuable experience, and she recommended that others take advantage of the depth of knowledge and wisdom they have to share.
“If anyone has the opportunity to spend the time and speak with the veterans who paved the way for us here in the Air Force, in the Marines, in the Army, the Navy, the Coast Guard… please do it. They have such wonderful stories to tell, and they are so humble about it,” she said.
Hamburg had a similarly enriching experience.
“It’s great to see the young people,” she said. “The Air Force is more vigorous today than it was when we were in and that was a long time ago.”
Cronce added that an atmosphere of gratitude permeated the event.
“The veterans I spoke with said they appreciated the fact that we came by to spend time with them. However, it was a very small token of gratitude compared with all the sacrifices they, and their families, made for us,” he said. “We could never thank them enough.”