Airmen in UK celebrate Jamestown's 400th with British

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Scott Wakefield
  • Det. 4, Air Force News Agency
BURY ST. EDMUNDS, United Kingdom (AFNEWS) --  Airmen from Royal Air Force Lakenheath and RAF Mildenhall helped the town of Bury St. Edmunds May 8 celebrate the 400th anniversary of Jamestown, Va., the first permanent English settlement in America.

Volunteers from both bases came out in numbers to showcase Air Force people and equipment. 

The RAF Lakenheath Honor Guard carried the colors for a parade that led through the main road in the middle of town, filled with crowds of spectators, both British and American.

Members of RAF Mildenhall's Honor Guard carried a declaration of the "Freedom of the Borough," which gives military members of RAF Lakenheath and RAF Mildenhall permission to march in the town. Lakenheath High School's Junior ROTC also performed drill maneuvers on Angel Hill right outside the towns Cathedral.

The celebration marks the 400th anniversary of one man's dream to create a colony in the New World. Bartholomew Gosnold chartered the Virginia Company through King James I of England to stake a British claim in the Americas. Mr. Gosnold made his home in Bury St. Edmunds with his family before embarking on his historic expedition. On May 14, 1607, three ships belonging to the Virginia Company landed at what are now the Jamestown shores.

Airman Basic Joshua Driscoll just arrived at RAF Lakenheath and was attending classes at the First Term Airmen Center. The FTAC staff and students assisted with the day's event. Airman Driscoll found he was getting an early start being an unofficial American ambassador.

"It's important to be a part of the community you're in," said the 48th Security Forces Squadron member.

Capt. Shaun Flint volunteered to help coordinate Air Force participation in the celebration. He said the Bury St. Edmunds Council and the two bases have been coordinating the festivities since September. When the call went out for help they had an immediate response, and actually had to start turning people away.

Frank Warby, the town's mayor, was appreciative of American participation in the event. He said the remembrance was just as much a part of American history as British history.

"I think it proves the friendship between the two states, America here, and the Queen currently in Jamestown," he said.

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