28th BW hosts Black Hills Community Appreciation Day

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Hailey Staker
  • 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. --  Nearly 3,000 people from the surrounding communities attended the 2014 Black Hills Community Appreciation Day Aug. 16., giving attendees the opportunity to experience the Ellsworth mission first-hand as well as allowing the installation a chance to show its gratitude to the local community for its unwavering support.

"The intent today is to bring folks ... on the base, meet our Airmen and learn our mission, but more importantly to let us thank the community for their tremendous support they have provided while we executed our mission," said Col. Kevin Kennedy, 28th Bomb Wing commander. "I've been stationed at Ellsworth Air Force Base off and on since March 1994, and the support from the community has been nothing short of tremendous."

Community members enjoyed a wide-range of performances including 28th Security Forces Squadron military working dogs demonstrations, B-1 bomber and B-52 Stratofortress flybys and entertainment provided by local band, Dogs Without Sweaters.

"I thought it [was] nice to be able to come and see the air base, and see the people that are involved in protecting this country," said Larry Beckwith, 70, farm and ranch real estate office manager. "I've always been fascinated with aircraft and I was in the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps when I was in college. If I could have flown, I would have enlisted."

Mr. Beckwith reminisced about his youth and explained how bombers would fly over his family's ranch during training missions.

"I can remember our ranch was east of here in the Badlands, and when I was young, I could hear bombers fly over from Ellsworth on practice runs," Beckwith said. "I wanted to come out and see the cockpit of a B-1 and I'd like to see the cockpit of a B-52 because those are the airplanes I remember."

Airman 1st Class Ashley Moreno, 28th Security Forces Squadron response force member, said the appreciation day was her first open house, and that everything went well from a security forces standpoint.

"I thought it was really neat. It gives the whole community an opportunity to come in [and] see what we do, check out these displays and [show how we] appreciate their support," Moreno said. "It was a good experience."

Kennedy touched upon the importance of community support while Ellsworth Airmen deploy, emphasizing the significant role it plays when having to leave their families behind and focus on the mission downrange.

"When we go downrange, we leave behind our families," Kennedy said. "And [it is] our relationship with the community [that proves itself] absolutely vital in making sure our families are cared for. It's great to build that relationship... I enjoy making a closer bond with the community as we're both executing what we need to do as we defend our nation."

Kennedy added how the importance of community support aids in the military's ability to defend the country.

"The defense of our nation isn't just military, it's a civilian-military relationship and we have a tremendous one here in the Black Hills, that's what today is all about," Kennedy added. "Today they will learn more about our mission, meet our Airmen and we'll have our opportunity to thank them."