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Scott to host Retiree Appreciation Day

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Erica Holbert-Siebert
  • 375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. --  Team Scott will come together to host the 30th Annual Retiree Appreciation Day, scheduled for Sept. 26 at the Scott Club. This year's theme will honor America's Vietnam War veterans as part of the DOD's 50th anniversary commemoration, which lasts through 2016.

This event honors all retired members of the Armed Forces --the United States Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard, and will be from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., with booths opening up at 9 a.m. The event provides an opportunity for all retirees to connect with resources they need, consolidating several services and organizations into one convenient venue.

"Honoring our military retirees for their service has long been a storied tradition in our military and has grown appropriately more throughout the nation," said Retired Senior Master Sgt. Joe Barajas. He is the deputy director of Retiree Activities Office for the base.

Capt. Andrew Meidlinger, chairperson of the committee organizing the event, said, "The wing has the honor and the privilege of hosting this event annually to show our retiree community how much we appreciate them and also pay special recognition to our Vietnam War veterans and 'welcome them home!'"

Barajas, a disabled Vietnam War veteran of two voluntary tours of duty, said, "If I know I am meeting a fellow Vietnam War veteran, my hand immediately goes out to him to shake, and I say, 'Welcome Home, Brother, Welcome Home.' The response and expression on the faces of my fellow Vietnam War veterans has always been a warm smile and handshake, followed by a thanks and a welcome home also expressed to me. And then we start asking questions on where we were assigned during the war and what we did and it kind of goes on from there.

"Some of the things retirees contribute to today's members are the stories, anecdotes, vignettes, and wartime experiences where we had to use smarts, savvy, flexibility and adaptability . . . these things you just don't find in a textbook."

Some retirees come from the surrounding states to attend Retiree Appreciation Day, not only from the Southern Illinois region, but Eastern Missouri, Southern Indiana, and Western Kentucky as well.

Meidlinger said, "The event also affords the opportunity for the retiree community to come together, share memories, and enjoy each other's company. We have attended to every detail to design an event that gives retirees valuable information regarding current affairs within the respective service branches, current legislative efforts on behalf of retirees, current medical information, and services and activities available on base."

A wide range of organizations are represented at the event to include Veteran's Affairs, the Base Legal Office, and Services. Many of the booths come from 375th Medical Group, covering clinic care from the Pharmacy to Mental Health, TRICARE, and the Dental Clinic.

An award for Volunteer of the Year will be announced during the event as well, to give recognition for a chosen individual's selflessness and dedication to helping others.

Barajas said the mission of the Scott AFB Retiree Activities Office is to assist retirees and family members of all branches of the uniformed services. Services include Information, counseling and referrals on retiree benefits, casualty assistance, TRICARE information and assistance, entitlement programs, on-base functions and base facilities.

"The Scott AFB RAO strives to ensure a qualitative life for military retirees, spouses, widows, widowers and their families by supporting, advancing and unifying the military retired and active duty communities through positive volunteerism. It works to remind the retiree community that their service is not forgotten and that we remain dedicated and united to serve them and their families," he said.

The Scott AFB RAO serves as liaison between base functions and over 26,000 military retirees living in the greater Scott AFB and surrounding community encompassing Southern Illinois and portions of the states of Missouri, Indiana, and Kentucky.

The United States Air Force Retiree Activities Program was established in 1975, followed by the establishment of the Scott AFB Retiree Activities Program in 1979. The program functions as a staff agency and comes under the organizational control of the 375th Air Mobility Wing.