President visits Phoenix, meets Luke Airmen

  • Published
  • By Deborah Silliman Wolfe
  • 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. (AFNS) --  Fifty-one Airmen from Luke Air Force Base met President Barack Obama at the 110th Veterans of Foreign Wars National Convention Aug. 17 in Phoenix.

The base received an invitation from VFW officials for 50 Airmen to attend the opening session of the convention, as well as to hear the keynote speaker, President Obama.

"I got to give the president a fist bump," said Capt. Kristen Gibson, the 56th Operations Group executive officer. "I thought what he had to say was inspiring. I was supposed to go on leave Saturday, but I postponed my leave and changed my plane tickets. I wouldn't have missed this for the world."

The Luke AFB Airmen were shown to their seats before the president took the stage, and the audience stood up and gave the Airmen a standing ovation showing their appreciation for their service.

"I am really excited to be here today," said Alfreda Rubio, a 56th Force Support Squadron career development technician, who recently returned from a deployment. "This is an awesome opportunity. This is something you don't get to do very often, and I was glad I was chosen to attend."

Luke AFB Airmen had the chance to hear Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer, Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon, and retired Gen. Michael V. Hayden, the former National Security Agency and CIA director, before the president took the stage.

"I am honored and humbled to stand before you as commander in chief of the finest military the world has ever known," President Obama said. "And we're joined by some of those who make it the finest force in the world -- from Luke Air Force Base, members of the 56th Fighter Wing."

The president said it's neither the powerful weapons nor sophisticated systems that make the United States military the strongest in the world.

"No, the true strength of our military lies in the spirit and skill of our men and women in uniform," he said. "We can never say it enough, for your service in war and in peace, thank you VFW."

President Obama said men and women in uniform must always be treated as what they are: America's most precious resource.

"As commander in chief, I have a solemn responsibility for their safety," he said. "And there is nothing more sobering than signing a letter of condolence to the family of a serviceman or woman who has given their life for our country.

"That is why I have made this pledge to our armed forces: I will only send you into harm's way when it is absolutely necessary," President Obama said. "When I do, it will be based on good intelligence and guided by a sound strategy. And I will give you a clear mission, defined goals and the equipment and support you need to get the job done."

The president addressed a variety of topics including increases in defense spending, the withdrawal of troops from Iraq, the new strategy to disrupt, dismantle and defeat al-Qaida and its allies, fiscal responsibility and the government's responsibility to the armed forces and their families.

"Veterans of Foreign Wars, you have done your duty; to your fallen comrades, to your communities, to your country," he concluded. "You've always fulfilled your responsibilities to America. And so long as I am president, America will always fulfill its responsibilities to you."

After exiting the stage, President Obama approached the crowd, shaking hands, signing autographs and posing for photos as hundreds of audience members rushed the stage.

"The experience was awesome," said Tech. Sgt. Francis Warren, the 56th Security Forces Squadron military working dog section NCO in charge. "The president said some very powerful things and things we wanted to hear. I even got to get a picture and shake his hand at the end. I'm pretty happy about that."