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Show ^Hilltop Tunes September 16, 2004 Commentary th Hill Street Views 'How are gasoline prices affecting you?' Happy 57 , Air Force! by Dr. James Roche Secretary of the Air Force and Gen. John P. Jumper Air Force Chief of Staff Airman 1st Class William Reinier Member Base Honor Guard "It affects my travel. There are places I want to go, but I can't because I'll spend more money going there." Staff Sgt. Patrick Bowden Member Base Honor Guard "It doesn't affect me. I just charge gas on my Military Star Card and get gas on base." Senior Airman - Marie Below Member Base Honor Guard "I tend to carpool a lot more now that the gas prices are up." #V: Harden .NCOIC Base Honor Guard "I don't pay attention to. gas prices because all I worry about is getting to and from work." Tech Sgt. Ken Waters NCOIC Plans and Readiness 75th Services Division U.S. Air Force Happy birthday to the Airmen of the world's greatest air and space force! Our 57 years of history may be short, but they are packed with astounding accomplishments. We've broken the sound barrier, expanded military operThe Department of the Air Force was bom Sept. 18, 1947 when the first Secretary ations to the reaches of space, ushered stealth technology of the Air Force, W. Stuart Symington and precision-strike capability into modern warfare, delivwas sworn in and the U.S. Army ered humanitarian aid to austere locations, jointly won the transferred over all Cold War and provided decisive air and space power for air activities. wars in Korea, Vietnam, the Balkans, Afghanistan and Iraq. Your dedication to excellence, your integrity and your faithful service is recognized and appreciated by all Americans. Since our inception in 1947, America's Air Force has flown lead in defending peace and freedom around the world. That legacy was made possible by millions of professional Airmen dedicated to accomplishing critical missions with total success. Today, you are the torchbearers of our legacy. You are performing remarkably across the globe delivering aid to people hours and deployments away from home. We are grateful in need and defending and protecting our great nation from for their support. emerging threats and new enemies. Your competence, dedi- You represent the strength and patriotism of our great nation. cation to the mission and pride of service is renowned. We America is proud of our Air Force because of you. Thanks know you also have wonderful families who support your longfor your service and again, happy birthday! 9-11 recalls military purpose alone in his ignorance and I don't mean that in the pejorative sense. Many pf our fellow citizens had moved on. The war 75 Medical Group commander on terror was just another news story of the day. Last weekend we marked the third anniversary of the attack Military men and women and their families are bearing the on this country and the day our lives (especially in the mili- major burden of this war, no doubt. But it is the job we not only volunteered to do, but took an oath to do, no matter how diftary) changed forever. ficult— "to protect and defend the constitution of the United When I start getting distracted by the minutia of the day, I As we prepare to deploy some more of our medics to States." review the news reports from Sept. 11,2001, and the days and Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom weeks that followed — Reliving the moment 1 first heard about those planes hitting the World Trade Center and then the Pen- duties, let's not forget those who stay behind havean importagon. Watching as fellow Americans were forced to jump 90 tant duty to fulfill also. stories to their deaths rather than be incinerated. Listening to And it will be even harder with some of our teammates the families describe the last gone. This is when we get to prove what kind of peowords they had, via cell phone, ^ •"• pie we are, and what we have to their doomed loved ones. ... inside. This inner strength, Not a very pretty picture. this clarity of purpose causes The horrific events in Russome to call the young men sia last week only serve as and women who are our Aira reminder of the evil we are men, Soldiers, Marines and fighting. the "Next Great Sailors, I think those of us who were Generation." directly involved in the immeYou, active duty and civildiate response to the attacks ians, providing health care on 9-11 were the lucky ones. i ari^athwseB)Bacest ensure ^^qp y these warriors can do their ; witho6tmtrchJorany jobs. So, whether you are a provider or nurse, the tech us aTnafice to'dwell on wrfaf " •'*"•*''"*-*'" screening the patient or just happened. We had to * making sure the paperwork concentrate on the immedi—Col. Steve Reinhart is completed to pay the civilate and subsequent response. — ian doc, or in the pharmacy This reflection usually refo- ' cuses me on what is important, why we are fighting this war getting the right meds to the right patients, or surveying the workshops all over base ensuring a safe and healthy on terror and why we stay to do such a difficult job. work environment, or a squadron commander making sure Thirteen months after the attack, at my new command at everything is "lashed up," you are an integral part of the Scott AFB, 111., I attended a luncheon featuring a governfinest organization on the earth, fighting the worst evil we ment official from St. Louis. He started his speech relaying how, when he had arrived on base, he asked our wing com- have ever faced. mander why everyone was in BDUs. "Because we are at war," Bottom line, whatever you do, you are an integral part of the the commander answered. The speaker then asked, "What war on terror and you can't forget that. It is an awesome responwar?" sibility history has given us. Take a moment or two to remember those we lost on Sept. 11,2001 and our brothers and sisters I couldn't believe it! How could anyone not realize we were who have died since then in defense of freedom. at war? However, I'm sorry to say, it became clear he was not by Col. Steve Reinhart Whatever you do, you are an integral part of the war on terror and you can't forget that yy Vote, because voting still matters a republic implies a responsibility to vote.. Second, keeping a republic implies voting responsibly. Installation Voting Officer We do not have a monarchy, the pattern of the day during Just 538 additional voters were all Al Gore needed in the the constitutional convention, because our fore-fathers chose to be self-governing. Those who don't vote abdi2000 election. cate self-governance. They choose to let others rule over Those votes would have given him the state of Florida and them. Citizens who vote irresponsibly or ignorantly fare their 25 electoral votes, making him the 43rd President of no better. Hitler rose to power while Germany was a repubthe United States. Imagine the anguish of Mr. Gore's suplic. porters among the 40 percent of electorate in Florida who didn't vote. Likewise, President Bush's non-voting Florida So, take the time now to register to vote. Military persupporters probably wished to add to his 0.018 percent vic- sonnel and their voting eligible dependents can register tory margin. and vote absentee in their state elections by contacting their unit voting counselor and requesting a "Federal Post While Florida made headlines in 2000, two additional states Card Application," Standard Form 76. It can be used to both turned in margins smaller than the number of eligible milregister to vote and to request an absentee ballot from your itary voters stationed here at Hill. Iowa had a 4,144 difstate. ference and New Mexico's margin was a squadron-sized 366 votes. Wisconsin and Oregon margins — 5,708 and A list of unit voting counselors can be found at 6,765 respectively — probably were smaller than the total http://www.hill.af.mil/site/voting/. These counselors can combination of Hill's eligible voters among military, their help you fill out the request according to your state's requirespouses, and dependents. Votes matter. ments. Between now and the election, study the candidates and They also matter in another way. At the close of the constitutional convention, Benjamin Franklin was asked, "Well, election issues. Find web links for your state's elections and ballot initiatives at www.fvap.gov. And, when you doctor, what have we got, a republic or a monarchy?** receive your ballot, or on Election Day if you will vote in He replied, "A republic, if you can keep it." person, vote because voting still matters. Two concepts emerge from this statement. First, having by Maj. Dave Calder "It had me re-look at my budget and how often I drive my vehicle." 2nd Lt. Janna Aumick QIC Plans and Readiness 75th Services Division "I don't have to worry about it that much. I have a bike." "The U.S. Air Force — meeting the challenge through Global Vigilance, Reach and Power/' Quality Systems for Americas Air Force Hilltop Times . Published by Ogden Publishing Corp., a private firm in no way connected wilh the U.S. Air Force, under exclusive written contract wilh Hill AFB. This commercial enterprise Air Force newspaper is an authorized publication for members of the U.S. military services. 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