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Retiree Activities Office holds Annual Appreciation Day

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Sam Fogleman
  • 92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash., --  President Abraham Lincoln, in his second inaugural address in 1865, said that one of the nation's aims was "to care for him who shall have borne the battle."

Staying true to Lincoln's words, the Air Force and the Fairchild community in particular is highly mindful of its retirees.

"We honor our veterans in torchlight parades, founders day and other national holidays," said Rudy Lopez, retired Command Chief Master Sergeant of Fairchild. "We should pause and salute them every day, for without their perseverance we wouldn't celebrate Veterans Day."

In celebration of the contributions of retired airmen, the Fairchild Retiree Activities Office is holding its Annual Retiree Appreciation Day at the Armed Forces Reserve Center Drill Hall June 14 from 8:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m for retirees and their families. The AFRC is located at Building 4400, 300 E. Eaker Avenue on Fairchild.

Personnel from the 92nd Medical Group, Base Exchange, Commissary, Veterans Administration, Eastern Washington Veterans Cemetery and others will be there to talk about their programs and to answer any questions veterans and the families may present.

"The Appreciation Day is designed to bring in resources to the retirees, like TriCare, the VA, the cemetery, the Red Cross, the VFW, so they can get the latest and greatest from these organizations, what the trends are, keep them current," said Jim R. Smith, director of the RAO and retired sergeant major from the Army. "We also asked the wing commander to bring to the retirees a brief message on the status of the Air Force."

The keynote speaker at the retiree appreciation event will be retired Marine Lt. Gen. Jack Klimp, who served as Deputy Commandant for Manpower and Reserve Affairs for the Marine Corps until his retirement in 2001.

Cookies and coffee will be available.

For more information, visit the Fairchild Retiree Activities Office's website at www.fairchild.af.mil/library/retireeactivitiesoffice, or call the office directly at 509-247-5359.