Air Force celebrates 64

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class David Owsianka
  • 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  More than 800 Luke Air Force Base members celebrated the service's 64th birthday with an Air Force Ball Saturday at the Renaissance Hotel in Glendale. The ball is an annual Air Force-wide tradition to celebrate the heritage and history of the Air Force.

"It's important for Airmen to come to the Air Force Ball because it's a huge tradition," said 1st Lt. Holly Gramkow, 308th Aircraft Maintenance Unit assistant officer-in-charge and chairman of the Air Force Ball committee. "Having this event keeps us grounded in our founding and where we started as a service."

The theme for the ball was Saluting Heroes ... America's Airmen.

"We chose the theme to tie history in with the Airmen serving in the Air Force today," Gramkow said. "We wanted to show our appreciation for the heroes of the past and present."

As our country received its birthright from people of many lands, the ball started off with a Pageant of Flags ceremony performed by Luke Airmen and Agua Fria High School Junior ROTC cadets. The pageant is a historic ceremony to show how America's flags came to be.

The 10 flags presented during the ceremony represented the creeds that have flown over our land. They were the St. George Cross, King's Colors, British Red Ensign, Continental Flag, Gadsden, Grand Union, Betsy Ross Flag, Bennington Flag, Star Spangled Banner and Old Glory, followed by the presentation of the colors by the Luke AFB Honor Guard.

"The flag which we serve is the emblem of our unity, power, thoughts and purpose as a nation," said Master Sgt. Timothy Bass, 56th Force Support Squadron Honor Guard superintendant. "It also symbolizes those who seek freedom and people who are proud of our great nation."

After the flag ceremony, retired Gen. Carrol Chandler, former Air Force vice chief of staff, and Airman Sophie MacMaster, 56th Medical Support Squadron clinical laboratory phase two student, carried on the tradition of having the most senior and junior Airmen participate in the cake cutting ceremony to celebrate the Air Force's birthday.

Chandler, who also served as wing commander here from 1996 until 1998, returned as the speaker for this year's ball.

Chandler agreed to speak at Luke's event this year because he said being around the young men and women serving in the Air Force is personally rewarding and he would take the opportunity to say thank you.

"It's imperative those serving in the Air Force today know what they do is important," Chandler said. "They fill a number of vital roles in our Air Force and I find their sacrifice and the work they do every day motivating."

He also covered three points during his speech. They were turmoil in Washington, staying true to our core values and the need for Airmen to enjoy what they're doing.

"Everything Airmen do impacts our respective Air Force," Chandler said. "Our ability to work together directly contributes to the security and stability of our bases. Luke AFB truly has a worldwide impact."

Luke members danced to the Air Force Band of the West, which provided musical entertainment for the rest of the evening.

As a first-term Airman, Airman 1st Class Jamel Stallings, 56th Maintenance Operations Squadron knowledge operations management, said he enjoyed his first Air Force ball.

"I thought it was spectacular," Stallings said. "The ball was elegant and it was an experience I'll never forget."