Ellsworth to host Retiree Appreciation Day

  • Published
  • By Capt. Martha Petersante-Gioia
  • 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. --  The local military retiree population and their families are invited to Ellsworth's Military Retiree Appreciation Day Sept. 18. Invitees are invited to visit the base from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and partake in various activities from an information fair to lunch to a static B-1 display.
 
Representatives from off- and on-base organizations will be on hand, from both 9 to 11 a.m. and 1 to 2 p.m. in Dakota's main lobby, to discuss various estate planning tools, offer legal assistance, brief financial health, help update personal information in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System and showcase the wide-variety of services available to military retirees on base. Organizations that will be present include but are not limited to: TRICARE, 28th Bomb Wing Legal Office, 28th Services Squadron, Veterans' Administration and the 28th Mission Support Group Causality Affairs Office.
 
A buffet luncheon will be held at Dakota's from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and feature Col. Scott Vander Hamm, 28th Bomb Wing commander, as the guest speaker. Cost is $7 for club members and $9 for non-members; the entrée is chicken-fried steak. During the luncheon the Army and Air Force Exchange Service will give away one, $100 gift card; winner must be present at the luncheon to claim their prize. Invitees should fill out an entry form, which will be provided by the Ellsworth Retiree Activities Office, at the beginning of the luncheon to enter. 

Additionally, during the day retirees and their families will have the opportunity to tour a static display of the B-1 bomber transportation will leave the Dakota's parking lot at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Each tour will last approximately one hour.
 
Members from the Ellsworth Honor Guard Silent Drill Team will give two demonstrations in the Dakota's parking lot at 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Members of the 28th Security Forces Squadron will also showcase their mission and equipment at 10 a.m. with a short baton demonstration in the Dakota's parking lot.

Throughout the day, both the base AAFES and the commissary will offer various specials and sale opportunities at their facilities. 

For more information on Retiree Appreciation Day, contact the RAO at (605) 385-3600 or go online to www.ellsworth.af.mil/rao.asp.