F.E. Warren holds annual Fort D.A. Russell Days

by Senior Airman Jason Wiese
90th Missile Wing Public Affairs

7/21/2015 - F.E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo. -- The clanking of a blacksmith's hammer and the smell of gun smoke lets the base and Cheyenne, Wyo., know one of its biggest events is back.

F.E. Warren opened its gates to the general public from July 17 to 19 for the 21st annual Fort D.A. Russell Days, the base's open house.

Guests had a chance to view demonstrations and displays showing the base's past and current missions.

"This is one of our best community outreach programs for showing people what we do," said Tech. Sgt. Joseph Ramey, member of 90th Security Support Squadron Vehicle Section. Ramey volunteered to showcase the 90th Security Forces Group's vehicles and equipment during Fort D.A. Russell Days.

Ninetieth Missile Wing Airmen provided tours of the missile procedures trainer, a Minuteman III ICBM launch control center replica, and the U-01 training facility, a Minuteman III launch facility replica. Furthermore, other base organizations, including security forces and civil engineers, displayed some of their equipment and explained their missions to visitors.

"Everybody's been ecstatic about learning about the vehicles," said Senior Airman Allen Roy, also with the 90th SSPTS Vehicle Section.

In addition to equipment displays, the Warren Spouses Club and Balfour Beatty Communities offered visitors tours of historic brick homes on base.

First-time events at this year's Fort D.A. Russell Days were a Buffalo Soldiers presentation and a visit from the Leap Frogs, the U.S. Navy parachute team.

The open house coincides with the beginning of Cheyenne Frontier Days, Ramey said. This allows more people to see the base's mission because many people visit Cheyenne for CFD.

Fort D.A. Russell Days is the brain-child of Paula Taylor, 90th MW Warren ICBM & Heritage Museum director. The event included living history presentations from the Colonial-era, Civil War, World War II, along with re-enactments of battles from each.

"This is the best turnout we've had in the 21 years we've done Fort D.A. Russell Days," Taylor said. "There was a continuous stream of visitors."

One visitor who had a chance to see many of the demonstrations had kind words to say about the open house. Tayler Wilson, Cheyenne resident, said she visited the open house to see what it was all about.

"I read about it in the newspaper, and it's a cool thing," Wilson said. "It allows people to really see what the base does for our community."