Mountain Home celebrates 60th anniversary during Air Force Ball

Published Oct. 2, 2007
By 1st Lt Matthew Stines
366th Fighter Wing Public Affairs Office

MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho -- The 366th Fighter Wing held its Air Force Ball Sept. 29 on base in Hangar 201. The theme for this year's Ball was "Heritage to Horizons," focusing on the 60th anniversary of the Air Force along with the men and women who have served and continue to serve our country.

First Lieutenant Samuel Jun, 366th Comptroller Squadron, led the fundraising effort for the ball. He and his team raised more than $5,000 in three months to finance the event.

"This is about our heritage," said Lieutenant Jun. "I was proud to be a part of the effort for this event."

The event featured a cake cutting ceremony, awards, prizes, a live band, dancing and ceremonies held by the base honor guard.

The evening kicked off with the masters of ceremony, retired Chief Master Sgt. Bob Roberts and Senior Master Sgt. Jennifer Jones, 366 Comptroller Squadron First Sergeant, providing welcoming remarks, followed by the base honor guard posting the colors, while the Singing Stripes sang the National anthem. Wing Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Victor Toney gave the invocation.

After posting the colors and the invocation, the masters of ceremony introduced the distinguished guests then charged their glasses for toasts. Immediately following the toasts, men and women who have been captured or gone missing in combat were remembered by a Prisoner of War/Missing in Action ceremony performed by the base honor guard.

Once the evening's formalities concluded, dinner was served and then the evening proceeded to the cake cutting ceremony. The ceremonial cake commemorated the 60th anniversary of the Air Force. Retired Col. Chester "Soapy" Walborn and Airman 1st Class Mitchell Davis, 366th Operations Support Squadron, went forward to do the honors.

Retired Lt. Gen. Mark Schmidt, former Mountain Home AFB commander, gave a speech relating his experiences at Mountain Home AFB.

After General Schmidt finished and before everyone in attendance gave him a standing ovation, Col. James Browne, 366th FW commander, gave the closing remarks and presented a commemorative plaque to General Schmidt.

Colonel Browne also made a gift presentation to Col. Walborn and Airman Davis. Afterward he ended the evening's ceremonies and everyone was invited to stay and enjoy the live band.

"It was a very nice tribute to the Air Force's 60th birthday. The planning committee did an excellent job raising funds, advertising and setting up the whole event. 1st Lt. Rachel Hindelang from the 726th Air Combat Squadron did an excellent job as the program manager," said Sergeant Jones.

Mountain Home celebrates 60th anniversary during Air Force Ball

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