RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
Team Randolph military and civilian leaders, Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce representatives, wounded Soldiers, local high school musicians, singers, Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps cadets and various guests packed the Kendrick Club's ballroom early Tuesday morning for the Air Force Association Alamo Chapter's 39th Annual Combat Breakfast.
Retired Air Force Colonel and AFA Alamo chapter president Gary Copsey thanked the chamber's military affairs committee for helping his chapter to put on the event as part of "Celebrate America's Military" week.
He also explained what the association does.
"Our purpose is to foster a spirit of Air Force commitment to combat operations and to educate the public about the Air Force's mission and the critical role of air power," Mr. Copsey said.
Mr. Copsey and the 400-person strong audience, which dined heartily on the bacon and egg buffet-style meal, watched intently as the San Marcos High School AFJROTC color guard posted the colors and performed a Prisoner of War-Missing in Action ceremony.
They listened as young singers and musicians from Judson High School in Converse, Texas, played and sung patriotic standards, and clapped spontaneously as a four-man silent drill team from the Air Force Honor Guard spun heavy, bayoneted M-1 Garand rifles at 40 miles per hour, within inches of their flight commander's face, never touching him.
Brig. Gen. Len Patrick, 502nd Air Base Wing commander and the keynote speaker, said he was touched and a little awed by the performance of the youthful cadets and musical ensembles, as well as by the young Honor Guard Drill Team Airmen who performed so precisely.
"I don't know how I can top that," he said after commenting appreciatively on the groups' performances and the presence of the wounded warriors in the room.
He made a point with the crowd when he told of being a new lieutenant in the early 80's, fresh from the Air Force Academy assigned to an engineering squadron, where his first duty was copying documents. He complained about it and was corrected by a colonel. The correction reinforced one important concept, the general told the audience.
"No matter what the job is that the Air Force gives you to do, remember that it's the most important job there is," General Patrick reflected.
The general went on to say to the crowd, today's young Airmen are all volunteers, with a twist.
"They have known war their entire lives," General Patrick said, referring to the many Airmen born around the time of the Gulf War, where he was instrumental in building relationships with Saudi officials who helped him succeed in efforts to build bases there.
"Some of them enter the Air Force for educational opportunities. Some enter because of patriotism. Others enter to make a better life for themselves."
The former commander of Basic Military Training at Lackland AFB in San Antonio, Texas, said part of giving back to those young Airmen was appreciating their service.
"San Antonians, residents of "Military City, U.S.A.," did that well, General Patrick commented.
"I'm proud to be a member of this great city," he said, after recounting the familiar sight of new Airmen fresh out of BMT visiting the River Walk in their proudly worn uniforms and being greeted by Alamo City residents.
'When they thank you for that service, say 'thank you for your support,'" he suggested to the Airmen in the ballroom. "And to you young Airmen in the back of the room, remember -- you earned that thank you."