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FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. (AFNS - 5/16/2012) -- A
10-year-old boy, who has been fighting a cancerous tumor on his
optic nerve and endured 1.5 years of chemotherapy, had the
opportunity to become an "Airman for a day" here May 4.
Samuel Burke checks out the cockpit of a KC-135 Stratotanker on May
4, 2012, in the maintenance hangar during his tour of various
agencies across the installation at Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash.
The “Airman for a day” program aims to enable children with serious
medical conditions to experience the Air Force first-hand. Burke is
a 10-year-old boy from Spokane, Wash., who has been fighting a
cancerous tumor on his optic nerve. U.S. Air Force photo by Senior
Airman Benjamin Stratton
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Sam, from Spokane, Wash., was the first youth to participate in this
program, which was started by the Fairchild AFB Company Grade
Officer's Council. The program gives children a break from whatever
challenges they face on a day-to-day basis.
"It means a lot
to me to be a part of something so important to someone as brave as
Sam," said 2nd Lt. Nick Kim, the 92nd Air Refueling Wing CGOC
president. "This program's intent is to give a child like Sam, who
is battling a serious medical condition, the opportunity to
experience the Air Force first-hand. With the help of base Airmen
and the CGOC, I hope we were able to show Sam and his family
something special; hopefully something he will never forget."
And according to Sam, not only will he not forget his time here,
but he said he may make it a career some day.
"When I was
little, I would say, 'Hey mom! |
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I'm gonna be a Soldier,'" Sam said. "After what I experienced today,
I would totally become an Airman." |
Sam, along with his mother, Valentina, and sister,
Madeline, began his tour with a visit with Chief Master Sgt.
Wayne Deist, the 141st Air Refueling Wing's command chief.
The chief explained how Fairchild AFB's active duty and Air
National Guard members work together.
Airmen from
more than 10 agencies here came together to show off their
mission. Members donated items including: an explosive
ordinance disposal ball cap, a firefighting helmet, a
custom-sized airman battle uniform, a survival evasion
resistance escape beret and a second lieutenant's flight
suit, complete with 92nd ARW patches and rank.
"EOD
was definitely my favorite," Sam said. "Because they get to
blow things up!"
During his visit to EOD, Sam not
only got to try on their bomb suit, operate their robot and
learn more about the weapons they use down range, but he
also had the opportunity to head out to their test range and
dispose of five pounds of C4 explosives.
"Most people
don't understand exactly what we do," said Master Sgt. Jesus
Hernandez, the 92nd Civil Engineer Squadron EOD flight
chief. "It's really great having the opportunity to show
somebody like Sam what we do day in and day out and expose
them to how important our mission really is."
Though
EOD may have been Sam's favorite, Sam was Fairchild AFB's
favorite Airman.
"I think this is a really great
experience for young people like Sam," said Staff Sgt. Sean
Marlow, a SERE specialist with the 22nd Training Squadron.
"We got to show him what we do -- so anything we can do to
help. He's worked the hardest of anyone here."
Marlow, referring to Sam's ongoing fight with his cancerous
tumor, said he has the utmost respect for the boy who
watches nothing but the Military Channel when allowed
television time.
Staff Sgt. Jose Cadena, a
military-working-dogs trainer with the 92nd Security Forces
Squadron, said it was an honor to see the smile on Sam's
face when he saw Cadena's dog, Dakota, demonstrate her
skills of taking down an "aggressor."
Finally, the
young Batman enthusiast not only got to "fly" a KC-135
Stratotanker flight simulator, but also refueled an F-35
Lightning II in the boom operator's simulator.
"We're
all about making wishes happen," said Tech. Sgt. Justin
Dixon, a boom operator with the 92nd Air Refueling Squadron.
"I've had a lot of family who have dealt with cancer over
the years, so seeing how motivated and driven Sam is means a
lot to me.
"I think the 'Airman for a Day' program
not only helps kids like Sam deal with what they're going
through, but it helps their families as well," Dixon added.
Sam's mother said they felt welcome during their visit
to here and wanted to thank all agencies involved.
"I
think it was so great of everyone to have made such a
special day for Sam," she said. "Everyone put so much time
and effort into this; we couldn't have been in better hands.
The best part about what (everybody) did for Sam is that he
couldn't stop smiling and laughing. This was a huge morale
boost for my son. Thank you."
By USAF Senior Airman Benjamin Stratton
92nd Air Refueling
Wing Public Affairs
Air Force News Service
Copyright 2012
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