FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- Five Fairchild Airmen have been selected to serve as grand marshals for Saturday's 69th-annual Lilac Festival Armed Forces Torchlight Parade. 

Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Jeffrey Neuberger, wing chaplain; 1st Lt. Catherine Christ, KC-135 pilot; Tech. Sgt. Jacky McClain, medical material craftsman; Staff Sgt. Juan Hernandez, assistant flying crew chief; and Senior Airman Cindy Phillips, command chief executive assistant, have been selected as grand marshals. 

"I consider it a distinct honor to represent the men and women of Fairchild," Chaplain Neuberger said. "I have experienced more tangible and heart-felt support of the military from the greater Spokane community than any other community I have been associated with over my 27-year career." 

This is the first year multiple individuals - including enlisted Airmen and junior officers - have been selected as grand marshals, an honor usually reserved for general officers and other military brass. 

"We thought it would be appropriate to have Airmen serve as grand marshals since the theme of this year's parade is 'Here's to the Heroes,'" said Lilac Festival President Sandy Brown. "These individuals truly are our heroes, fighting for us over there." 

Grand marshal honors usually rotate between all branches of the armed forces, but Fairchild representatives were specially selected this year in honor of this year being the 60th anniversary of the Air Force. 

These five Airmen will be honored at various Lilac Festival activities, including a civil-military luncheon on Thursday, at which they will each give a short speech, followed by an address by Col. Scott Hanson, 92nd Air Refueling Wing commander. 

"Fairchild enjoys great support from the community," Colonel Hanson said. "The open arms and support from the Spokane community are just tremendous." 

In fact, little over a month ago on April 12 Spokane was awarded the Abilene Trophy, presented to the best community support location in Air Mobility Command, an honor last bestowed on the Lilac City in 2001 for outstanding support in 2000. 

The Lilac Parade starts at 7:45 p.m. Saturday in downtown Spokane and will include a float from Fairchild as well as other military units in the area. 

"To share a moment like this with such a supportive community, on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the Air Force, is a phenomenal joy and privilege," Chaplain Neuberger said.