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Thank yous all around

  • Published
  • By Col. Gary Goldstone
  • 375th Airlift Wing commander
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. --  The 2008 Airpower Over the Midwest Air Show last weekend was a great success thanks to the Joint Total Force Scott community and our civilian partners.

While the air show itself may cover a two-day weekend, more than ten months of planning went into making the event a reality. Everything from acquiring aerial demonstration teams, aircraft static displays and ground exhibits to crafting a parking plan had to be well thought out in advance.

The air show was a true team effort requiring everyone at Scott Air Force Base to rally together. A special thanks to our air show honchos Majors Rob Simpson, Mark Keener and Lance Fraley for their unending hard work! With volunteers from nearly every organization on base lending a hand, the air show demonstrated a positive image of Scott Air Force Base and the talented professionals assigned here.

This year's all-star air show team also included civilian law enforcement agencies, emergency responders and medics. Their expertise and contributions were instrumental in executing the air show without incident.

Not to be forgotten, the Scott Field Heritage Air Park Committee, surrounding community leaders and area businesses were essential to making this year's show a reality. Without their efforts and support, the air show would not have been possible.

Air shows are important communication tools designed to educate the American public about their U.S. Armed Forces, to support recruiting and retention efforts and to showcase military assets and its servicemen and women. The 2008 Airpower Over the Midwest Air Show did all that and more!

The lineup of military aerial demonstration teams along with the variety of aircraft static displays and ground exhibits showed the might and strength of the United States Air Force from its historic beginning to today. The Berlin Airlift traveling exhibit helped to educate air show guests about the important role air power played during World War II while the Thunderbirds highlighted the advanced skills of its F-16 modern weapons system. The entire air show clearly demonstrated the precision, reliability and teamwork that all of our nation's services can deliver anywhere around the globe.

Nearly 150,000 people attended this year's show and they take away with them a lasting experience and impression of their military. There are kids who left the show wanting to learn to fly and parents who gained a new appreciation of the military's capabilities. The Joint Total Force Scott community should take great pride knowing their planning, hard work and efforts helped create these positive memories.

A hearty salute goes out to everyone who had a part in this year's air show. Every single volunteer not only made an impact but also ensured that our air show was a total success.

Thank you for your professionalism, attention to detail, commitment to excellence and teamwork. Congratulations to all on a job well done!