Travis personnel given a well-deserved salute
Article Launched: 06/01/2005 08:21:13 AM
By Jason Massad/Staff Writer
U.S. Rep. Ellen Tauscher revealed Tuesday an Epiphany she recently experienced about the nation's military - one that originated very close to home, she said.
In mid-May, many of America's lawmakers were assembled in the Capitol building in Washington, D.C., when an out-of-breath staffer entered a legislative chamber to announce that they were under attack.
Thousands of people rushed out of the building in panic, not knowing what could be awaiting them.
The frightened mass was greeted outside the Capitol by incoming F-16 fighter planes that were scrambled from nearby Andrews Air Force Base. The planes created a powerful drone that Tauscher remembered "sounds like music."
But it was only later, when the panic subsided and the cause of the frenzy was found to be a wayward two-seated Cessna that had flown into restricted air space, that the deeper lesson of the day materialized, Tauscher said.
"This is what our military does, all day long, all night long," she said to a large group of Travis Air Force Base active duty and reserve personnel gathered at Fairfield's community center with Solano's government and business leaders to honor the achievements of the local base. "Unlike us who run for our lives, none of you do ... You run toward the fight."
In the short story, Tauscher's personal experience summed up the feel and thrust of Tuesday's "Salute To Travis," a community event aimed at recognizing the local base, and organized by the Travis Community Consortium.
The luncheon event individually honored the active duty and reserve Air Force units that have been intimately involved in the war in Iraq, as well as the Army, Navy and National Guard units that are important components of the local base.
There has been a lot to celebrate at Travis and in the wider community in the last few weeks. Years of nagging fears surrounding the fate of the base ended weeks ago when it was announced that Travis was not included on a highly anticipated federal base closure list.
Tuesday's event was a forum for the good news to be celebrated.
"I don't know about you, but I think that deserves a round of applause," said Kevin O'Rourke, head of the Travis Community Consortium.
The event to honor the base and the service personnel there comes a day after Memorial Day, when much of the nation celebrated at barbecues, picnics and patriotic parties the sacrifice of soldiers.
Dixon Mayor Mary Ann Courville, in honoring Col. Timothy Grosz, head of the 615 Contingency Response Wing, asked the audience to use their imagination to conjure the enormity of the military's might and its sacrifice.
In talking with him before the presentation, she had asked the colonel how many men and women were under his command. Courville used the figure in her speech honoring the wing.
"As I present this, I want you to envision 800 men and women standing with him," she said.
Not all of the 17,000 personnel stationed at Travis Air Force Base could cram into the Fairfield community center Tuesday to hear the praises that were sung for their service.
But in remembering the local soldiers, no doubt many of the people that were there could imagine the size of the sacrifice.
Jason Massad can be reached at county@thereporter.com.
By Jason Massad/Staff Writer
U.S. Rep. Ellen Tauscher revealed Tuesday an Epiphany she recently experienced about the nation's military - one that originated very close to home, she said.
In mid-May, many of America's lawmakers were assembled in the Capitol building in Washington, D.C., when an out-of-breath staffer entered a legislative chamber to announce that they were under attack.
Thousands of people rushed out of the building in panic, not knowing what could be awaiting them.
The frightened mass was greeted outside the Capitol by incoming F-16 fighter planes that were scrambled from nearby Andrews Air Force Base. The planes created a powerful drone that Tauscher remembered "sounds like music."
But it was only later, when the panic subsided and the cause of the frenzy was found to be a wayward two-seated Cessna that had flown into restricted air space, that the deeper lesson of the day materialized, Tauscher said.
"This is what our military does, all day long, all night long," she said to a large group of Travis Air Force Base active duty and reserve personnel gathered at Fairfield's community center with Solano's government and business leaders to honor the achievements of the local base. "Unlike us who run for our lives, none of you do ... You run toward the fight."
In the short story, Tauscher's personal experience summed up the feel and thrust of Tuesday's "Salute To Travis," a community event aimed at recognizing the local base, and organized by the Travis Community Consortium.
The luncheon event individually honored the active duty and reserve Air Force units that have been intimately involved in the war in Iraq, as well as the Army, Navy and National Guard units that are important components of the local base.
There has been a lot to celebrate at Travis and in the wider community in the last few weeks. Years of nagging fears surrounding the fate of the base ended weeks ago when it was announced that Travis was not included on a highly anticipated federal base closure list.
Tuesday's event was a forum for the good news to be celebrated.
"I don't know about you, but I think that deserves a round of applause," said Kevin O'Rourke, head of the Travis Community Consortium.
The event to honor the base and the service personnel there comes a day after Memorial Day, when much of the nation celebrated at barbecues, picnics and patriotic parties the sacrifice of soldiers.
Dixon Mayor Mary Ann Courville, in honoring Col. Timothy Grosz, head of the 615 Contingency Response Wing, asked the audience to use their imagination to conjure the enormity of the military's might and its sacrifice.
In talking with him before the presentation, she had asked the colonel how many men and women were under his command. Courville used the figure in her speech honoring the wing.
"As I present this, I want you to envision 800 men and women standing with him," she said.
Not all of the 17,000 personnel stationed at Travis Air Force Base could cram into the Fairfield community center Tuesday to hear the praises that were sung for their service.
But in remembering the local soldiers, no doubt many of the people that were there could imagine the size of the sacrifice.
Jason Massad can be reached at county@thereporter.com.
posted by Solano EDC at 2:34 PM
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