Founded in 1962, the AFA Alamo Chapter 234 is celebrating t

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Patrons USAA SBC Bank of America Military Bank
Air Force Federal Credit Union Frost Bank AGE
Refining Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc. Randolph Broo
ks Federal Credit Union dNovus RDI Apollo Gate O
perators, Inc. San Antonio Federal Credit Union
Karta Technologies, Inc. Eisenhower National Bank
Security Service Federal Credit Union Phyllis B
rowning Air Force Village Foundation Stumberg Fo
undation 2005 Birthday Ball Planning Committee
Col Bonnie Lind, 2Lt Corey Everage, MSgt Ronney
Isham, MSgt Michael Kent, MSgt Shelia Meola, MS
gt Richard Moses, MSgt Charles Rivera, TSgt Carlo
Franco, TSgt Yogi Ybarra, SSgt Jovanda Dew,
SSgt Heather Miller, SSgt Jennifer Sawyer, Ms.
Charlene Keen and the 37th Training Wing Protocol
Staff Thank you to everyone who made this Air
Force Birthday Ball a success
The Alamo Chapter of the Air Force Association

and the 37th Training Wing presents
17 September 2005 Gateway Club Lackland Air Forc
e Base, Texas
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ALAMO CHAPTER
Air Force Song
The Air Force Association (AFA) is an
independent, non-profit, civilian organization
promoting understanding of aerospace power and
the pivotal role it plays in the security of the
nation. Founded in 1962, the AFA Alamo Chapter 2
34 is celebrating the Air Forces 58th birthday.
The Chapter represents all San Antonio Air Force
organizations with additional representatives
from the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, Air
Force Village, and Arnold Air Society. It is
the largest AFA Chapter in the world with more
than 4,000 members. Membership is open to everyo
ne, military and civilian.. Annually, the Alamo
Chapter sponsors numerous programs to honor area
base military and civilian employees. They
provide scholarships for Alamo AFA members
immediate family members, AFROTC cadets, JROTC
students and CCAF graduates. Along with
scholarships, they sponsor the Visions of
Exploration programs for middle school classrooms
and an essay contest for high school seniors.
Alamo Chapter members have been recognized for
their outstanding accomplishments with AFA awards
at the local, state, and national levels. Other
members within the chapter have held or currently
hold Texas and National AFA level positions.
Off we go into the wild blue yonder,
Climbing high into the sun Here they come zoom
ing to meet our Thunder, At em boys, Give e
r the gun! (Give er the gun!) Down we dive,
spouting our flame from under,
Off with one helluva roar! We live in fame or
go down in flame. Hey! Nothingll stop the
U.S. Air Force!
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POW/MIA TRIBUTE
37th Training Wing Lackland Air Force Base, Texas
The small table at the front has been placed
there for our POW/MIAs. The items on the table
represent various aspects of courageous men and w
omen still missing. This table set for four is
small, symbolizing the frailty of one prisoner
alone against their oppressors.
The table cloth is white, symbolizing the purity
of their response to our countrys call to arms.
The empty chair depicts an unknown face, repre
senting no specific soldier, marine, sailor, or
airman, but all who are not here with us.
The table is round, to show that our concern for
them is never ending. The Bible represents fai
th in a higher power and the pledge to our
country, founded as one nation under God.
The black napkin stands for the emptiness these
warriors have left in the hearts of their
families and friends. The single red rose in a
vase reminds us of their families and loved ones
the red ribbon tied represents the love of our
country which inspired them to answer the
nations call. The yellow candle and its ribbon
symbolize the everlasting hope
for a joyous reunion with those yet unaccounted
for. A slice of lemon is on the bread plate to
remind us of their bitter fate.
There is salt upon the plate, symbolic of the fa
milies tears as they wait. The wine glasses tu
rned upside down, reminds us that our
distinguished comrades cannot be with us to drink
a toast or join in the festivities this evening.
The Air Force first established the 37th Training
Wing on 3 March 1953, designated as the 37th
Fighter-Bomber Wing. Its first major combat
mission was during military buildup launched by
President Dwight D. Eisenhower to encourage the
Democratic People's Republic of Korea to settle
on a truce to end the Korean War.
In October 1966, the wing was reactivated as the
37th Tactical Fighter Wing and in March 1967, its
first operational duty came during a three-year
combat assignment in South Vietnam. In 1981,
after an 11-year inactivation, the wing was
activated at George AFB, California, flying F-4G
Wild Weasel aircraft. In October 1989, the wing
transferred to the Air Force's high security
Tonapah Test Range in Nevada to bring the
hitherto secret F-117 Stealth Fighter into
operational configuration. The wing accomplished
that task in time for its aircraft and crews to
serve in the Persian Gulf War. The wing was
inactivated on 8 July 1992. On 1 July 1993, it
was activated as the 37th Training Wing at
Lackland AFB as a training wing.
The 37th Training Wing is the largest training
wing in the Air Force. It provides basic
military, professional and technical skills, and
English language training for the Air Force,
other military services, government agencies, and
allies. It also provides technical,
professional, and management courses in Spanish.
To accomplish this the wing is comprised of four
training groups and one of the largest mission
support groups in the Air Force. The 737th
Training Group provides basic military training
for all enlisted personnel entering the Air
Force, the Air Force Reserve and the Air National
Guard, graduating over 45,000 annually. The 37th
Training Group conducts 380 technical training
courses in a wide array of base support/combat
support functions, military discipline and
physical fitness for more than 38,000 students
per year. The Defense Language Institute English
Language Center conducts English training with an
annual graduation rate of approximately 2,200
international and U.S. military students. The
Inter-American Air Forces Academy conducts almost
50 technical, professional and management courses
in Spanish for almost 1,000 students a year from
the armed forces and governmental agencies of up
to 18 Latin American countries. The 37th Mission
Support Group is the largest mission support
group in the continental United States and with
its 4,800 personnel, and seven squadrons provide
services that enhance the morale and welfare of
all personnel assigned to Team Lackland.
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General William R. Looney III
SEQUENCE OF EVENTS Cocktails Opening Remarks A
rrival of Head Table Presentation of Colors Nati
onal Anthem Pledge of Allegiance Introductions
POW/MIA Tribute Invocation Dinner Birthday Cak
e Presentation Intermission The USAF Band of the
West Performance Guest Speaker (General William
R. Looney III) Video Presentation Closing Remar
ks Air Force Song Dancing DINNER ME
NU Grilled Chicken Medallions of Beef Tenderloi
n Twice Baked Potatoes Broccoli Spears with Butt
er Tossed Green Salad Fresh Hot Rolls Butter
Birthday Cake Iced Tea Coffee Vegetarian Plat
e Vegetarian Lasagna
General William R. Looney III is Commander,
Air Education and Training Command, Randolph
Air Force Base, Texas. As commander, he is
responsible for the recruiting, training and
education of Air Force people. His command
includes the Air Force Recruiting Service, two
numbered air forces and Air University. Air
Education and Training Command consists of 13
bases, with more than 66,000 active-duty
members and 15,000 civilians.
General Looney graduated from the U.S. Air Force
Academy in 1972, where he commanded the cadet
wing in his senior year. The general has
commanded a flight, a fighter squadron, two
fighter wings, an air expeditionary force, a
military college, a warfare center, a numbered
air force and two acquisition centers.
General Looney flew 62 combat hours in the F-15
in support of Operation Southern Watch and
commanded Joint Task Force 86-2 in support of
Operation Uphold Democracy. He is a command
pilot with more than 3,900 flying hours,
including 2,500 hours in the F-15.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS Distinguished Serv
ice Medal with oak leaf cluster, Defense Superior
Service Medal, Legion of Merit with oak leaf
cluster, Defense Meritorious Service Medal with
oak leaf cluster, Meritorious Service Medal with
three oak leaf clusters, Air Medal, Aerial
Achievement Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal
with oak leaf cluster, Air Force Achievement
Medal, Combat Readiness Medal with oak leaf
cluster, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal,
Humanitarian Service Medal, and the Air and Space
Campaign Medal.