JB MDL Airmen celebrate AF birthday in NYC

Published Sept. 25, 2014
By Airman 1st Class Tara A. Williamson
Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs

JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- More than 50 Airmen from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., and New York Air National Guard travelled to New York City, N.Y., to enjoy the U.S. Air Force's 67th birthday, Sept. 18, 2014.

Airmen were staged in Bryant Park to attend a ceremony to celebrate the mission of the U.S. Air Force to fly, fight and win in air, space and cyberspace. To achieve that mission, the Air Force has a vision of global vigilance, reach and power.

"Sixty-seven years ago, the National Security Act of 1947, during President Harry S. Truman's tenure, established the U.S. Air Force as a separate military service Sept. 18, 1947," said David Wilson, Deputy Director of the Secretary of the Air Force National Media Engagement Office. "That makes 67 years of air power excellence, what we are celebrating today."

Loree Sutton, Commissioner of Veterans' Affairs for New York City and , former Army Brig. Gen. with more than 25 years of service, read a proclamation by Bill de Blasio, New York City mayor, announcing Sept. 18, 2014, as New York City United States Air Force Day.

"The very first military aviation unit was created April 30, 1908, called the 1st Aero Company and it was part of the New York National Guard, located on Long Island," said Maj. Gen. Verle Johnston, NYANG commander. "Today, its descendant is the 102nd Rescue Squadron with the New York Air National Guard, located at Francis S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base, Westhampton Beach on Long Island. As the New York Air National Guard commander, and a native New Yorker, I am very proud of the New York heritage."

Johnston went on to describe how in 1942 aviators, officers and enlisted air crew, would be able to be sent back home if could successfully completed and survived 25 missions.

"In the beginning, no one could," the general said. "They were shot down and either died or were captured prisoners of war. Imagine going out to your aircraft for these missions, day after day, knowing you will not get to 25 missions. How do you keep going out to your aircraft on the ramp? That's courage."

More Airmen died in World War II in the 8th Air Force alone than all Marine Corps deaths in WWII.

Today, the number of Air Force active duty is only slightly greater than 300,000 uniformed Airmen. The Air National Guard has about 105,000 and the Air Force Reserves about 75,000.

"You could put all the uniformed members of the Air Force into five football stadiums and have room to spare," Johnston said. "Think of that. In a country of more than 310,000,000 people, our whole uniformed Air Force is less than 500,000, and they would fit into five Rose Bowl stadiums."

Not a single U.S Soldier on the ground has been killed by an enemy aircraft since Korea, he added. "That is air supremacy."

To end the ceremony, the Air Force Heritage of America Band ensemble 'Full Spectrum' performed for the Airmen and the gathering crowd.

"(Our Airmen) are the best trained, the best motivated and the most professional Airmen we've ever had," Johnston said. "I've been in the service 40 years, now, and I can attest to that. If someone questions whether the younger generation has what it takes and whether they can be successful, you should have no doubts about the young men and women in this Air Force. We are proud to have them on board and you, as citizens of this nation, should be tremendously proud of them."