Activation Ceremony

First, I apologize for the amount of time that has gone by between this great event and when I am writing the blog about it!  I have been swamped and quite frankly couldn't figure out the best way to write about our time there!  This particular ceremony was one that conjured up several different emotions in me.  In this blog, I will attempt to explain them all and tell you all I can about the wonderful time we had at the Activation Ceremony.

Late last year I was notified that my father's unit from DaNang, Vietnam was going to be reactivated.  My father was in the 20th TASS (Tactical Air Support Squadron) from April 1972 through June 29, 1972, when he was killed.  My dad was a Covey FAC (Forward Air Controller).  His call sign was Covey 87.  They had a Snoopy patch for their unit! 

The unit had be deactivated and reactivated several times in the past.  The latest was to be in January 2011 where it would become the 20th RS (Reconnaissance Squadron), and we were invited to attend the ceremony as their guests of honor.  Of course I would go!  To be a part of the history of my dad's unit would be an honor for me! 

After working with the Lt. Col. who would be the Squadron Commander, we got all the details in order and my husband, kids and I made our plans to go to up north...in the winter!  SNOW!  Much different than Texas!  The kids were thrilled, not only because we had a trip to take but also because one of their middle school friends had moved away in their 8th grade year and happened to live nearby.  We included seeing him as part of our trip!  Oh, they were so excited!

So, Thursday afternoon, we make our way to the event location and when we got there, the first thing that hit us was, you got it, the COLD!  We arrived there around 10:00 PM and met up with Lt. Col. Travis Burdine, a wonderful host!  We were immediately "at home" and felt completely taken care of.  We were surprised with the fact that we were staying on base, in the Officer's Quarters.  They had a really cute three bedroom, two bath home for us to stay in while we were there.  It was fabulous! 

The gate entrance!

The very first thing that happened once we got to the house was that we were shown around, given a tour, of the house by Lt. Col. Burdine and then decided to go unpack the car while he and my husband, Paul, ran up to the store for some drinks to keep in the fridge.  The kids and I all headed to the car and "slam", the door shut behind us.  OOPS, the key is inside and it automatically locked!  So, Elizabeth, my daughter, is credited with locking us out of the house within the first 30 seconds of our being there!

The best thing about the house was the two little trees in the front, they looked like little Christmas trees with snow all over them!  The snow covered the yard, it was beautiful.  We could see all kinds of stand alone plane displays from our front door...not that you could stand the front door being open too long!  Too cold!  Brr!


Our accommodations while we were there.

 When we arrived we were told some of the old 20th TASSers were hanging out for the evening but we were really too worn out to get dressed and go meet with them.  We decided to take it easy for the night and just get some sleep.  Having recently gotten over the flu and still dealing with a messed up right foot (I broke it a couple of months ago and it is still in a boot), I was ready to hit the sack!

Friday morning we woke up and were escorted to the Bowling Ally for breakfast!  They had the BEST biscuits and gravy!  Fantastic breakfast!  While we were there, some of the old TASSers showed up.  And, appropriately, the first thing they said to Elizabeth was, "Oh, yes, the girl that locked her family out of the house as soon as they got there!"  HA HA!  She was a good sport and quickly blamed it on me for leaving the key on the desk!  We got to see some old friends and make some new ones!  Paul had a computer buddy with Capt. Goldsmith!  They debated MAC vs. PC over breakfast! 

Every time I attend a ceremony I am constantly amazed at how nice, accommodating and open the men from my dad's unit are.  All of these men either knew or knew of my dad and they all made a point to come over and talk to me and my family.  It's always so nice to see them, it's like a little family reunion!

So after breakfast we made our way over to the Stealth Bomber!  Jake could not wait for this.  We got to see it up close and personal....ok, not too personal!  We were allowed to walk around the outside of the plane and look all our hearts desired.  We were not, however, permitted across the red rope they had surrounding the plane, or to take pictures.  No pictures allowed.  To enforce our good behavior, there were armed guards surrounding the plane.  Nice little M-4's (or that's what they looked like!)...loaded and ready for use!  So...I'll mind my manners!  Plus, it was like 19 degrees out there and I was freezing!  So, after a nice walk around (far around) the plane I made my way back inside to hang out in the warmth!

But not for long!  We were now headed to the stagnate B-52 so that I could get a better history of the plane that my dad used to fly in out of Thailand in 1970.  We were accompanied by Maj. Dan Taylor and a couple of 20th TASSers.  They gave me all kinds of interesting details about the plane and the crew that would have flown in it.  Again, it was FREEZING outside!  And to make things worse, I stepped in a pile of snow with my boot...and got snow in the toe of it!  The boot is an orthopedic boot, so it is an open toed one...not too handy in the snow!

From there we attended a luncheon where we had a great meal.  I guess it's true, the Air Force does have the best food!  It was very nice, and it was there where we really got to know and become close with Maj. Dan Taylor.  He was awesome!  We had a blast hanging out with him that day. 


The B-52 that was on display.

 During the luncheon, Col. William Tart gave a speech/lecture on various aspects of the mission of this newly reactivated unit.  Without knowing what I can and cannot divulge to the public, we will leave it at that!  He was a great speaker and very nice man.  We enjoyed meeting him as well!

From there we toured the new 20th RS building.  It was fantastic, very well done.  We were told that just a few short days/weeks that area would be considered top secret and we would not have been allowed in!  Woo hoo...we saw it first!  That was cool!  They had a wall going down one of the main hallways that had all of my dad's pictures up there.  When I turned the corner, the first thing I saw was a very large sketching of my dad's military photo.  I immediately got a lump in my throat, it was amazing.  Simply amazing.  Then I found out that Lt. Col. Burdine's 11 year old daughter had drawn it just a few days prior to the ceremony...and it only took her a few hours to do it.  Incredible.  I can still see it perfectly clear,  it was absolutely an honor to him.


The artists rendition of my dad's picture.  She did a truly amazing job.

We were then given a tour of the control room.  You know the control room in Transformers?  Well, it was a lot like that!  It was so cool!  I almost felt like I was in a movie!  I am sure a lot of very great work will take place in that room.  I know my dad would have probably loved to have seen it! 

Control room...there is nothing top secret on the screens, it is all prerecorded looped videos



Not the best picture of me, but hey...I love my jacket!  This was also prerecorded demo videos.

The mission of the 20th RS seems to be very close to that of the 20th TASS.  The major difference is that these men and women will be able to do it and remain quite a bit safer than the FAC's were a long time ago.  It is so comforting to know that strides are being made to ensure the safety of our troops...and maybe fewer kids will be left without their dads (or moms) in the future.  Congratulations to all of them, I hope they enjoy their role in the history of the Air Force.  It's truly amazing how things have changed and improved.

From there we went to the Activation Ceremony.  Now this was a real treat for us!  We got to see a Change of Command Ceremony.  How awesome was THAT!  Congratulations to Lt. Col. Burdine!  It was so cool to see how that is done!  I sat next to his mother, she was so very proud of her son!  Can you imagine?!  It must be such an honor!  The ceremony was fantastic and the 20th RS was official!  The unit members were all so nice and fun to be around!  One of them had the last name "Bennett"...we decided we had the best last name ever!  She was sweet!


Change of Command ceremony, it was an honor to see this.

 We wrapped up the day with drinks and appetizers...and cake...at the Officer's Club.  We all got to sit and visit with eachother and listen to stories of then and now.  I brought the Medal of Honor with me so that people could see it and read the citation.  I think they enjoyed being able to see one up close and personal.  I admired the amount of respect shown to the Medal.  It was surprising to me how many of them didn't want to pick up the shadow box that I have it mounted in.  They would rather just look at it on the table.  It was interesting, a learning experience for me.  It was very nice to spend time with everyone there and get to know more about the 20th RS and to hear more about the 20th TASS.


The 20th TASS...the "old guys"!



The new leaders of the 20th RS with myself and my family!

Later that night, we decided to go to dinner with Maj. Taylor so we went to a steakhouse off base.  It was so much fun!  He is a great guy.  Our kids really hit it off with him and he seemed to really like our "family dynamics" as he called it!  He missed his family, who will join him at his location later this summer.  I am very sure they miss him as well, he must be a great dad!

The next day we left to start home.  After a while on the road, we found the Osceola Cheese Factory.  It has all kinds of cheeses and you can sample them.  They are fantastic!  We didn't have a way to keep all the cheese cold on the way home to Texas so we just bought one.  The lightly smoked bacon cheddar.  Oh my.  It is so yummy!  I strongly recommend them if you love cheese like we do!  They have a website too, look them up!


Osceola Cheese Factory...worth the stop!

  

It was SO COLD!  Paul, Elizabeth and Jake bravely stood for the picture!


We stopped to see our kids' friend, David.  As soon as he walked in, I recognized him!  He hasn't changed at all.  We all had a great time and a good lunch before we had to get back on the road.  His dad came to get him and we left.  The rest of the trip home was fun, as usual!  Our kids travel GREAT!  We saw the most amazing sunset.  It was beautiful!  We also met a puppy at a rest stop!  He was cute!


Jake, David and Elizabeth...it was great to be able to get them together again!

 A special "thank you" to the base, the 20th RS, Maj. Dan Taylor and Lt. Col. Burdine.  If I didn't name someone else specifically, it was not intentional!  ALL of you were wonderful!

I did not post the exact location due to security issues.
I was not able to post several pictures that I think would be very interesting due to the nature of security.  I didn't want to post anything that would compromise them or their mission.

Thanks for reading, pass this link on to anyone you think may be interested!  Before you leave, be sure to click on "FOLLOW" in order to follow this blog!  There are some interesting and exciting plans in the works...I don't want you to miss out!