Military honored with 49th annual Air Force Appreciation Day

MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho -- The 25th Army Band from Gowen Field in Boise, Idaho, leads the 49th annual Air Force Appreciation Day parade procession of more than 120 parade entries Sept. 12 in downtown Mountain Home. The year’s festivities began with a corn shucking competition and fun run Sept. 11 and ended with the parade and free barbecue Sept. 12. AFAD began in 1962 as a way for the Mountain Home Chamber of Commerce to express their gratitude for the economic benefits the Air Force brought to the area and a way to encourage neighborly growth. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Renishia Richardson)

Military honored with 49th annual Air Force Appreciation Day

MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho -- Lt. Col. Travis Condon, 366th Logistics Readiness Squadron commander, passes corn down the table during the 49th annual Air Force Appreciation Day corn shucking competition Sept. 11 in downtown Mountain Home. The year's festivities also included a fun run Sept. 11 and ended with the parade and free barbecue Sept. 12. AFAD began in 1962 as a way for the Mountain Home Chamber of Commerce to express their gratitude for the economic benefits the Air Force brought to the area and a way to encourage neighborly growth. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Debbie Lockhart)

Military honored with 49th annual Air Force Appreciation Day

MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho -- Amelia McCarthy and her mother, Heidy McCarthy, shuck corn during the 49th annual Air Force Appreciation Day corn shucking competition Sept. 11 in downtown Mountain Home. The year's festivities also included a fun run Sept. 11 and ended with the parade and free barbecue Sept. 12. AFAD began in 1962 as a way for the Mountain Home Chamber of Commerce to express their gratitude for the economic benefits the Air Force brought to the area and a way to encourage neighborly growth. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Debbie Lockhart)

Military honored with 49th annual Air Force Appreciation Day

MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho -- Contestants compete in the 49th annual Air Force Appreciation Day fun run or walk Sept. 11 in downtown Mountain Home. This year's festivities also included a corn shucking competition Sept. 11 and ended with the parade and free barbecue Sept. 12. AFAD began in 1962 as a way for the Mountain Home Chamber of Commerce to express their gratitude for the economic benefits the Air Force brought to the area and a way to encourage neighborly growth. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Debbie Lockhart)

Military honored with 49th annual Air Force Appreciation Day

MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho -- A group of contestants cross the finish line during the 49th annual Air Force Appreciation Day fun run or walk Sept. 11 in downtown Mountain Home. This year's festivities also included a corn shucking competition Sept. 11 and ended with the parade and free barbecue Sept. 12. AFAD began in 1962 as a way for the Mountain Home Chamber of Commerce to express their gratitude for the economic benefits the Air Force brought to the area and a way to encourage neighborly growth. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Debbie Lockhart)

Military honored with 49th annual Air Force Appreciation Day

MOUONTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho -- The 366th Logistics Readiness Squadron fuels management flight parade float drives past during the 49th Air Force Appreciation Day parade Sept. 12 in downtown Mountain Home. The 366th LRS float was one of more than 120 entries this year. The year’s festivities began with a corn shucking competition and fun run Sept. 11 and ended with the parade and free barbecue Sept. 12. AFAD began in 1962 as a way for the Mountain Home Chamber of Commerce to express their gratitude for the economic benefits the Air Force brought to the area and a way to encourage neighborly growth. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Renishia Richardson)

Military honored with 49th annual Air Force Appreciation Day

MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho -- Children react as candy is thrown during the 49th annual Air Force Appreciation Day parade Sept. 12 in downtown Mountain Home. The year’s festivities began with a corn shucking competition and fun run Sept. 11 and ended with the parade and free barbecue Sept. 12. AFAD began in 1962 as a way for the Mountain Home Chamber of Commerce to express their gratitude for the economic benefits the Air Force brought to the area and a way to encourage neighborly growth. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Renishia Richardson)

Military honored with 49th annual Air Force Appreciation Day

MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho-- The Idaho Korean Association performs during the 49th annual Air Force Appreciation Day Sept. 12 in downtown Mountain Home.The year’s festivities began with a corn shucking competition and fun run Sept. 11 and ended with the parade and free barbecue Sept. 12. AFAD began in 1962 as a way for the Mountain Home Chamber of Commerce to express their gratitude for the economic benefits the Air Force brought to the area and a way to encourage neighborly growth. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Renishia Richardson)

Military honored with 49th annual Air Force Appreciation Day

Published Sept. 14, 2009
By Senior Airman Samantha S. Crane
366th Fighter Wing Public Affairs Office

MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho -- The Mountain Home community honored U.S. service members and retirees at the 49th annual Air Force Appreciation Day festival Sept. 12, with certain events on Sept. 11.

The year's festivities began with a corn shucking competition at 6 p.m. Sept. 11 in Carl Miller Park in downtown Mountain Home followed by the fun run featuring either a five-mile run or three-mile walk.

The next morning, more than 120 floats lined up for the AFAD parade at 10:30 a.m., which followed an aircraft flyover featuring A-10 Thunderbolt IIs from the Idaho Air National Guard. The 25th Army Band from Gowen Field in Boise, Idaho, led the parade procession.

After the parade, military and community members had the opportunity to enjoy a free barbecue, music in the park, inflatable attractions for children and an assortment of booths run by local businesses, private organizations and vendors.

AFAD began in 1962 as a way for the Mountain Home Chamber of Commerce to express their gratitude for the economic benefits the Air Force brought to the area and a way to encourage neighborly growth.