by 2nd Lt James W. Killen
123rd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
4/24/2014 - LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- The
newest retirees from the Kentucky Air National Guard were honored at
April 12 when two black-granite plaques inscribed with their names were
unveiled during a ceremony at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base here.
The plaques join six others dating back to the first retirement in 1962
and honor those who have devoted much of their lives to the service of
the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the Kentucky Air National Guard.
The annual unveilings started 11 years ago as "a way of permanently
enshrining the people who have really been the cornerstone of what the
Kentucky Air National Guard is all about and the excellence we have
shown through the years," said Maj. Gen. Edward W. Tonini, the adjutant
general for the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
This year's ceremony honored the 46 Airmen who retired in 2013.
"We've been here since 1947, and the legacy that has been left by the
people whose names are on these plaques is incredible," said Col. Barry
Gorter, commander of the 123rd Airlift Wing. "We're out here today to
carry forward the legacy of excellence that has been handed down to us
by all of you."
The director of the Air National Guard, Lt. Gen. Stanley E. Clarke III,
also spoke at the ceremony, addressing an audience comprised of current
and former members of the Kentucky Air Guard and their families.
"For the members who are retiring, I want to tell you that this is
special because your family is here, your friends are here, and your
community is here," Clarke said.
The plaques, which line the front of the 123rd Airlift Wing's Lt. Gen.
John B. Conaway Headquarters Building, were donated by the non-profit
Kentucky Air National Guard Retiree Group.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment