Airmen honored during Heroes Homecoming

  • Published
  • By Sarah Olaciregui
  • 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  More than 50 Hanscom personnel were officially welcomed home from their deployments during a high-energy Heroes Homecoming on Dec. 10 in the Aero Club Hangar.

Senior leaders, community leaders, base personnel, families of the deployers, along with New England Patriots cheerleaders, Red Sox legend Rico Petrocelli and many other sponsors and supporters gathered to cheer for the heroes at this pep rally-style event.

The honorees ranged from airman to chief master sergeant and from lieutenant to lieutenant colonel, as well as a Department of Defense civilian, and represented every organization across Hanscom. They served in many different places, from Iraq and Afghanistan to Honduras and even stateside at MacDill AFB, Fla.

"Today, as we honor our deployers, we also honor their families and all of you for the sacrifices you have made and continue to make," said Michael Graham, the Master of Ceremonies. "Remember that it doesn't matter what uniform you wear, you are our heroes and you are America's heroes."

Amy-Jayne McCabe opened the ceremony with the national anthem and then sang a heartfelt song called "The Rock."

"I wrote this song while my husband was deployed," she said. "This is dedicated to all the families of the deployers."

Before calling the troops on stage, Lt. Gen. Ted Bowlds, Electronic Systems Center commander, addressed the Airmen for his last time at a Heroes Homecoming. He will soon retire.

"I want all of you to know how proud I've been to be able to stand here and welcome home each of you from deployments," he said. "As a commander, it has been one of my most rewarding experiences.

"We must always remember that the freedom and sometimes fragile peace we enjoy today is only maintained through the commitment and sacrifices of our past and present military heroes."

Among those honored during Heroes Homecoming were a number of security force personnel who, as members of the 455th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, fought back an attack in the early morning hours of May 19 at Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan.

"Because of their training and dedication to each other, when the dust settled, the joint defense effort led by members of the 455th eliminated more than 16 enemy combatants with minimal injuries to our forces," said Mr. Graham.

Tech. Sgt. Bill Boyden was another deployer honored during the ceremony. Sergeant Boyden is a member of the 66th Security Forces and was awarded the Bronze Star medal for meritorious service during a seven month deployment earlier this year in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

"We are grateful for their safe return and the safe return of all our honorees today," Mr. Graham said. "Welcome home to our Hanscom heroes!"