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Mayor of Limerick, Ireland flies with Fairchild

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Ryan Lackey
FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Washington --  The mayor of Limerick, Ireland, visited Fairchild Air Force Base today to take part in an orientation flight alongside 18 members of Leadership Spokane, to showcase the contribution to the Air Force’s global reach.

Mayor Kieran O’Hanlon is visiting the area as a guest of honor and to serve as the grand marshal in this year’s annual Lilac Armed Forces Torchlight Parade, scheduled for May 20 in downtown Spokane, Washington.

“We are privileged to be able to welcome the mayor of Limerick,” said Col. Ryan Samuelson, 92nd Air Refueling Wing commander. “It is very special to be supported by not only by our local community leaders, but also our friends from overseas.”

The mayor and the 18 members of Leadership Spokane flew on a KC-135 Stratotanker for a training mission to refuel several F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jets from Mountain Home Air Force Base.

“This has been one of the highlights of my life,” O’Hanlon said. “I had never been in the cockpit of an aircraft before. It was amazing to experience the friendliness, professionalism and skill these people showed me. It was fantastic.”

Limerick is a sister city to Spokane, along with Nishinomiya, Japan, Jilin city, China and Jecheon, South Korea. The sister cities program has international cities form cooperative bonds of support and cultural exchange.

“I want to thank all the Airmen for what you are accomplishing as world peacekeepers,” O’Hanlon said. “I am highly impressed by the partnership the people of Spokane have with Fairchild - something I hope we can be more a part of in the future.”