Team Moody celebrates 67 years of AF heritage

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Olivia Bumpers
  • 23d Wing Public Affairs
Valdosta, Ga. --  Team Moody and guests gathered to celebrate at the James H. Rainwater Conference Center in Valdosta, Ga., Sept. 19, in honor of the Air Force's 67th birthday. The ball is an Air Force tradition to reflect upon the history of the Air Force and the Airmen who began its legacy.

This year's theme was "Honoring our Heritage, Embracing our Future: A Journey through 67 years of Air Force Heritage."

"As we sit here in this room, there are men and women from Moody Air Force Base putting themselves at risk for our country adding to that great heritage that we celebrate tonight," said U.S. Air Force Col. Chad Franks, 23d Wing commander. "We need pride in what we [Airmen] have accomplished in our past and what we continue to accomplish every day."

The night began with a social hour and transitioned to a POW/MIA ceremony, to pay tribute to military members who have yet to return from defending America.

After the tribute, guests were served dinner followed by the traditional cake cutting ceremony. It is a military tradition for the most senior and junior Airmen to make the first cut of the cake. This year, it was Col. Jeffrey Decker, 23d Maintenance Group commander and Airman Raynard Billy, 23d Logistics Readiness Squadron.

Before the night was over, Franks introduced retired Command Chief Master Sgt. Rick Parsons, the guest speaker for the ball. Parsons spoke about the pride in what we have accomplished as an Air Force.

"It is the excellence and the commitment to excellence that we should be proud of," said Parsons. "As I speak, some of our Airmen are in harm's way taking the fight to the enemy so that we can be here tonight in assurance of freedom and safety."

He also said the great Airmen of history are the ones who paved the way for the Air Force to be as advanced as it is today.

"If it wasn't for the outstanding air dominance and air power we provide, more of our brothers and sisters would have gone home in a body bag," said Parsons. "I'm proud of our purpose, commitment to readiness, integrity, discipline and espirit de corps that we have in our United States Air Force.

"The motto at the 23d WG says it best, 'That others may live,'" he added.

After Parsons' speech, Col. Joseph Locke, 93d Air Ground Operations Wing commander, made closing remarks and thanked the directors and committees who made the night possible.

The celebration ended with attendees singing the Air Force song and gathering on the dance floor to complete the night.