Flag Day

Old Glory on the stern of the USS Mason (DDG 87), Port Canaveral, Florida.
April, 2003.

I don’t have a “flyable” flag any longer… and no place to really fly one, even if I did… which is a break from long-standing tradition. I still have two flags in my possession, but neither is suitable for display. Or rather, I choose NOT to display them. The first is the flag that draped my father’s casket; the second is a small flag in a shadow box with mementoes from my USAF career. My father’s flag is folded and put away for safe-keeping, the shadow box flag is…well, in the shadow box.

But I AM celebrating Flag Day. I hope you are, too.

I received an e-mail from the Air Force Association this morning announcing the selection of USAF’s Twelve Outstanding Airmen for 2007. Congratulations to:

• SrA Linn Aubrey, Medical Laboratory Journeyman, Lackland AFB, TX, AETC
• SMSgt Tammy L. Brangard-Hern, Personnel Superintendent, Randolph AFB, TX, AFDW
• SMSgt Ronald A. Colaninno, Security Forces Craftsman, McGuire AFB, New Jersey, AFRC
• TSgt Jeremy L. Griffin, Fire Protection Station Chief, Patrick AFB, Florida, AFSPC
• SSgt Matthew J. Hefti, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Craftsman, Hill AFB, Utah, AFMC
• SrA Matthew C. Hulsman, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Apprentice, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, PACAF
• TSgt Sachiko D. Jones, Lodging Manager, Royal Air Force Alconbury AB, United Kingdom, USAFE
• SSgt Jonathan C. McCoy, Pararescueman, Pope AFB, North Carolina, AFSOC
• SSgt David Orvosh,, Combat Control Journeyman, Pope AFB, North Carolina, AFSOC
• SSgt Richard W. Rose, Jr., Aerial Combat Photographer, Charleston AFB, South Carolina, AMC
• MSgt Lawrence B. Taylor, Air Traffic Controller, Kingsley Field, Oregon, ANG
• SSgt Geoffrey M. Welsh, Military Working Dog Handler, Seymour Johnson AFB, North Carolina, ACC

Each and every year since 1956 AFA selects 12 outstanding enlisted members to represent the “best of the best.” I quote:

“AFA initiated the Outstanding Airman award in 1956 to recognize outstanding enlisted personnel for superior leadership, job performance, community involvement, and personal achievements. AFA honors the Twelve Outstanding Airmen at a special banquet held during our Air & Space Conference in Washington, DC. The Twelve are chosen by an Air Force selection board made up of the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, a general officer and selected MajCom Command Chiefs. The Air Force Chief of Staff approves the final selections.”

You can read a short history of the program here. Biographies of this year’s honorees haven’t been released as of yet…I’ll follow up when they are.

Speaking of awards… Don’t miss the 2007 NHL Awards show tonight at 1930 hrs (Eastern) on Versus. It should be a great show, and if there’s ANY justice at all in this world, Nick Lidstrom will win his fifth Norris Trophy as the NHL’s best defenseman.

Short post today. The weather looks like it’s gonna be cooperative, so it’s off to wash, polish, and wax the Green Hornet. I may be back later.