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Air Force Week Salt Lake City A Success
(June 11, 2009) |
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Pilot in training Cooper Hirst of Ogden, Utah, gets a little help with the controls of a flight simulator from Lt. Col. Paul "Buster" Delmonte, 466th Fighter Squadron pilot, before the IMAX showing of “Fighter Pilot: Operation Red Flag” at the Clark Planetarium during Air Force Week Salt Lake City June 2, 2009. |
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SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (6/8/2009 - AFNS)
From
kids shrieking in delight at the amazing aerial maneuvers of the
Thunderbirds to their parents singing along with various Air Force
bands, one thing was obvious here last week: Air Force Week Salt
Lake City was a success.
Air Force Week Salt Lake City ran from June 1 through 7 and Airmen
from all over entertained and informed the community during a range
of shows and displays throughout the city.
"All of the events were awesome," said Mary Trainer, a local
resident who attended several events during the week. "It was nice
to get a firsthand look at what the Air Force does and how it does
it."
The Air Force Week program was set up as an opportunity for
communities around the country to learn more about what the service
does and how it does it through a variety of events and exhibits.
For Salt Lake City, these events and exhibits included concerts by
Tops in Blue, the Air Force's premiere entertainment group, a
showcase of Air Force people and equipment in Pioneer Park and an
open house and air show at nearby Hill Air Force Base. |
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"This is a wonderful opportunity for two communities, the Air
Force and the state of Utah, who rely heavily on one another, to fully
understand what each is about," said Col. Patrick Higby, commander of the 75th
Air Base Wing.
Other events included performances by the United States AIr Force Honor Guard,
several Air Force bands, an art exhibit at the city's museum and several
showings of the IMAX movie, "Fighter Pilot: Operation Red Flag" at the Clark
Planetarium.
Lt. Col. Paul "Buster" Delmonte, a Reserve flight commander with the 466th
Fighter Squadron, attended showings of the movie and spoke with the community
about what it's like to be an F-16 pilot.
For him, the event, and the week, was a great experience.
"I think it's been rewarding," he said. "People have been extremely gracious and
receptive. There's been a bigger turnout than we've expected."
The colonel, a Utah resident for the last 11 years, works full-time as a pilot
for the United States Forest Service. He said he appreciated the opportunity to
visit with the community about the purpose of Air Force Week and what kinds of
opportunities there are to serve in the Air Force.
And, ultimately, he said, the week was all about the community.
"It's an attempt to try and connect Air Force personnel and the community,"
Colonel Delmonte said. "We work for you." | |
Article by USAF SSgt. Matthew Bates
USAF photo by Alex Lloyd
Defense Media Activity-San Antonio
Copyright 2009
Reprinted from
Air Force News Service
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