Air Force Memorial: Sergeant brings spirit of volunteerism to dedication

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Matthew Bates
  • Air Force Print News
WASHINGTON (AFPN) --  Volunteering is a large part of Tech. Sgt. Donald Jones' job.

"It just comes with the territory," he said.

He works as the executive assistant to the Air Force District of Washington, D.C.'s command chief, and he's learned that what he doesn't volunteer for himself, he will eventually find himself working on anyway.

"Even if I don't volunteer for a certain project, I will be 'volunteered for,' so to speak," joked the sergeant.

But, when he found out his unit was looking for individuals to set up a planning committee for the celebrations and ceremonies surrounding the Air Force Memorial dedication no had to tell him to volunteer - he was more than happy to do so all on his own.

In fact, he wound up being one of the committee's co-chairmen.

"It's a real honor," said Sergeant Jones. "This is such an important event and being able to have a hand planning and organizing even a little part of it is just amazing."

The committee, which stood up two months ago, was responsible for finding and providing transportation to other volunteers and organizing various attractions for the dedication ceremony. These include a display of historic Air Force uniforms, creating an AFDW wine label and gathering items for a time capsule that will be buried during the dedication.

It's been a lot of work, but the end result, said the sergeant, is well worth it.

"This is such a great feeling to know that we've been a little piece of something so big and now we're about to see the finished product," he said. "It's like bringing all the pieces of a puzzle together and finally seeing the larger picture."

In this case, that larger picture is the dedication of a monument that will honor Airmen past and present, as it sits alongside the nation's other historic memorials.

Still, while it's easy to get caught up in the excitement surrounding the dedication, Sergeant Jones wants others to remember the significance of the memorial.

"A hundred years from now people will see this monument and think back on all the Air Force has accomplished," he said. "Right now, we are a part of that history."