Luke AFB honors, informs retirees

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Bryan Bouchard
  • 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  Military retirees and their families can ask questions, get answers and take a look at what their benefits do for them, during Luke Air Force Base's annual Retiree Appreciation Day from 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday. 

The day is designed to show what Luke has to offer the more than 100,000 retirees who call the greater Phoenix area their home. 

"I encourage the retirees in our area to come out to Luke and take advantage of this day, because it's just for them," said Brig. Gen. Kurt Neubauer, 56th Fighter Wing commander. "There will be a wealth of information about their benefits and services available to them." 

A retiree himself, Bruce Burrows is the director of the Luke Retiree Activities Office. Mr. Burrows echoed the general's words. 

"This is a chance for the retirees to get the latest information that affects them," Mr. Burrows said. "This is a day dedicated to them. All of us will be there to help them get what they need or at least point them in the right direction." 

The event will last most of the morning, which will open with the posting of the colors at 7:30 a.m. at Bldg. 485 on the west side of Luke. Throughout the day, retirees can take advantage of flu shots if available, prize drawings, the Desert Brass Big Band, weapons displays and more. Given the current financial climate, retirees can also speak with a Defense Finance and Accounting Service representative, who will be on-site to access the DFAS computer system and answer questions retirees and their families may have regarding pay and entitlements. 

For more information about Retiree Appreciation Day, visit the Luke Web site at www.luke.af.mil, and click on the Retiree Activities Office link on the right hand side of the page.

Luke Air Force Base Retiree Appreciation Day Schedual of events 

7:30 to 7:40 a.m. -- Posting of colors, Luke Honor Guard
7:40 to 7:45 a.m. -- National Anthem, Airman 1st Class Christina Vasquez, 56th Medical Support Squadron
7:45 to 7:49 a.m. -- Invocation, retired Senior Master Sgt. Charles Weigand, Luke Retiree Activities Office chaplain and project coordinator
7:49 to 07:50 a.m. -- Moment of silence
7:50 to 7:55 a.m. -- Introduction of master of ceremony, retired Lt. Col. Bruce Burrows, Luke RAO project coordinator
7:55 to 8:05 a.m. -- Opening remarks, Brig. Gen. Kurt Neubauer, 56th Fighter Wing commander
8:05 to 8:15 a.m. -- Col. Joseph Chozinski, 56th Medical Group commander
8:15 to 8:20 a.m. -- Col. Andre Curry, 56th Mission Support Group commander
8:20 to 8:35 a.m. -- Earl Roberts, Defense Finance and Accounting Service
8:35 to 11:00 a.m. -- Break, exhibits open
11 to 11:20 a.m. -- Grand prize drawing, Elaine Meissner, 56th Services Squadron
11:20 to 11:25 a.m. -- Benediction, retired Senior Master Sgt. Charles Weigand
11:25 to 11:30 a.m. -- Retrieving of the colors, Luke Honor Guard
11:30 to 11:35 a.m. -- Closing remarks, retired Lt. Col. Bruce Burrows

Concurrent events
7:30 a.m. to noon -- breakfast and lunch available for purchase
6:30 to 11:00 a.m. -- U.S. military identification cards, customer service, Bldg. 1150, Room 2051
7:30 to 11:30 a.m. -- Exhibits open, sponsor or service organizations, Hangar 485
7:30 to 11:30 a.m. -- Military weapons display, Hangar 485 (south side)
7:30 a.m. to 1p.m. -- F-16 and P-51 static displays, outside Hangar 485 (on flightline)
8:45 to 10:50 a.m. -- Desert Brass Big Band, Bill Fedor, director
9:30 to 10:30 a.m. -- Military working dogs, Hangar 485, south side
7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. -- Flu Shots, Hangar 485 (if available)