Air Force Week strikes a chord with America's heartland

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Phyllis Hanson
  • Air Force News Agency
ST. LOUIS (AFPN) --  As Americans reflect on the nation's freedoms this Independence week, events throughout the St. Louis region are putting special emphasis on the Air Force.

During the second day of weeklong events here celebrating Air Force Week St. Louis, a concert was held July 3 at Jefferson Barracks County Park in Lemay, Mo. This home of the first Army Air Corps training site and a national cemetery became a gigantic picnic ground for more than 20,000 people from all walks of life.

Running, laughing children, teenagers, parents and carefully walking elderly descended down upon the grassy, sloped park to enjoy the JB Blast, an event celebrating the armed forces. This year's focus was geared toward Air Force Week, so to help set the stage, the U.S. Air Force Band of Mid-America showcased the event.

The band, out of Scott Air Force Base, Ill., just east of St. Louis, played a variety of music from Big Band and Jazz to American folk and marching tunes.

"One of the great things that Air Force bands do, is they represent the Air Force's pride and the professionalism of the United States military through the universal language of music," said Maj. Don Schofield, commander and conductor of BOMA.

"During the show we present that Air Force professionalism through music," he said. Playing a five-state area, BOMA performed 427 concerts for 1.5 million people last year, Major Schofield said.

Ricky the Recruiter, a larger-than-life Air Force mascot recruiter, made an appearance and became the pied piper of sorts as dozens of children followed him around the park and danced with him in front of the bandstand.

"This is a wonderful event," said Larry Stromberg of Wildwood, Mo. The former Army Air Corps veteran had read about the event in the newspaper and said he just couldn't miss it. Mr. Stromberg attended basic training at Jefferson Barracks in 1943.

"The music is terrific, I am so impressed with how good these Air Force musicians are. It's a concert to remember," he said.

Throughout the day, thousands of visitors to the park were also able to meet many Air Force members and learn more about the Air Force. Children clamored to get a glimpse of the Air Force's Orange County Chopper and NASCAR vehicle.

Air Force recruiters, to include specialty recruiters from the medical field, were on hand to tell people about what the Air Force is all about and its great need for specialty enlistees such as doctors, nurses, and dentists. The Air Force's Special Tactics battlefield Airmen, whose careers are in combat weather, pararescue and combat control, had an enormous display featuring all of the equipment they use to help fight the war on terrorism.

"Air Force Week is a great way to showcase what the Air Force is all about," said Staff Sgt. Mike Brown a recruiter with the 345th Recruiting Squadron in Fairview Heights, Ill.

"We couldn't do what we do without the public's support," he said.

Sharing in the morale of the event as well, were volunteer United Service Organizations, or USO, who passed out military remembrances such as pins, stickers and magnets to passersby while gratefully accepting donations. Those donations in turn will be used to support servicemembers around the world. Food and drink stands volunteered by veterans from all the services.

As the sun began to set, the crowd really came to life when the band played America's old-fashioned favorites, delighting the oldest members of the crowd and enlightening the new.

JB Blast ended with a "Bang!" as the Air Force band closed their performance with the marching sounds of John Philip Sousa's "Stars and Stripes Forever," while an arsenal of fireworks lit up the Midwest sky.

To round out Air Force Week St. Louis and the celebration of the Air Force's 60th Anniversary, other events during the week will include a mass enlistment of soon-to-be Airmen at the St. Louis Cardinals baseball games July 7, and a first pitch on July 8. Tops in Blue will put on a musical variety show at the Saint Louis Science Center July 7.

The week will culminate at Scott AFB when the gates will open for thousands of spectators during an open house July 7 and 8. Tail spotters will be able to see a slew of the Air Force's air power from it bombers and fighter jets such as the B-2 Spirit, F-15 Eagles and F-16 Fighting Falcons, to Air Mobility Command's heavy lifters the C-9A Nightingale, C-5 Galaxy and C-130 Hercules.