DOBBINS AIR RESERVE BASE, Ga. (AFNEWS) -- Southern hospitality, total force and joint partnership were the ingredients that formed the inaugural kickoff for the Air Force's 60th Anniversary celebration Feb. 12 in Atlanta.
The official kickoff was held at the State Capitol, where Gov. Sonny Perdue welcomed the "Heritage to Horizons" Air Force theme celebration to Georgia.
A series of events from February to October will lead up to Air Force Week in Atlanta Oct. 8 to 14. Atlanta is one of six locations selected to host an Air Force Week.
The purpose of Air Force Week is to inform and educate the American public, civic leaders, Congress, and servicemembers about the importance and roles of the Air Force in America's national defense.
"We're proud of the Air Force blue and we want to welcome you to Georgia," Governor Perdue said.
Present for the kickoff were Lt. Gen. John A. Bradley, the chief of the Air Force Reserve; Maj. Gen. Scott A. Hammond, the Georgia Air National Guard commander; and Col. Heath Nuckolls, the 94th Airlift Wing commander; members and World War II veterans of the Atlanta Chapter Tuskegee Airmen, and other guests.
"We're so proud of the great team we have with the active Air Force, the Air National Guard and the Air Force Reserve," General Bradley said. They are "all working together as partners to form one Air Force."
"The Air Force Reserve Command was selected to host the Atlanta events. The 94th is the AFRC host wing," said Chief Master Sgt. John Cowman, 700th Airlift Squadron loadmaster superintendent and co-chairman of Atlanta's Air Force Week committee at Dobbins ARB.
"We were notified in November that Atlanta was chosen along with Phoenix, St. Louis, Sacramento, New England and Hawaii," said Chief Cowman. "A plan was put together with input from a lot of people. We modified the plan to make it fit with the culminating events in October -- such as the 'Great Georgia Air Show' at Falcon Field in Peachtree City (Georgia) and the Air Force Ball in Cobb County."
Plans throughout the year include a high school essay contest in metro Atlanta, a week of orientation flights for high school Junior ROTC cadets, the Atlanta Braves' first game of the season, and the Atlanta's Fourth of July Salute to America Parade.
"We're full partners with the Air Force and Air Force Reserve," General Hammond said. "This is a great opportunity for all of us who wear the blue suit to showcase to the American population (especially the citizens of Atlanta and Georgia) what we do. This will be a great year for us, especially Air Force Week in October."
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