Post ORI Celebrations: Heroes' Homecoming, Summer Bash scheduled June 22

  • Published
  • By J.C. Corcoran
  • 66th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
Hanscom AFB --   With the stress and excitement of the Operational Readiness Inspection almost out of sight, the need for a relaxing and worry-free environment becomes even more evident for base personnel and their families. 

The base will have one such opportunity June 22, as Hanscom celebrates the hard work and dedication of the community during the Heroes' Homecoming and Summer Bash 2007 events. The festivities will begin at 3 p.m. at Memorial Park behind the clinic. To ensure all personnel can take part in the events, Lt. Gen. Chuck Johnson, Electronic Systems Center commander, has declared the park an alternate duty location during the afternoon. 

Heroes' Homecoming will kick off the festivities with a celebration recognizing more than 80 Hanscom military members who have returned from deployment within the past six months.

 "This celebration is our way of saying thanks to not only our returning personnel, but to their families as well," said Col. Tom Schluckebier, 66th Air Base Wing commander. "This welcome home celebration is just a small way that we, as a community, can say 'thank you' for a job well done.

 "I hope everyone here at Hanscom will be at the park to formally welcome home our personnel. They've earned it," Colonel Schluckebier said. 

Michael Graham, radio talk show host on WTKK 96.9 FM radio, will act as Master of Ceremonies for the homecoming, as he did for the inaugural Heroes' Homecoming in January. 

Heroes' Homecoming honorees are asked to meet at the Minuteman Club at 2 p.m., and families of the honorees are asked to be in place at Memorial Park by 3 p.m. A table will be set up near the stage where family members of heroes being honored can check in. Children of the honorees are invited to participate in the ceremony by leading the flight of heroes into the venue carrying American flags that will be provided at the check-in table. 

Following the homecoming event, the community is invited to attend Summer Bash 2007, hosted by the 66th Services Squadron, at 4 p.m. Events at the bash will include free amusement rides for children, an outdoor concert by the Air Force Band of Liberty's Afterburner and the Liberty Big Band ensembles, as well as a variety of karate, yo-yo and skateboard demonstrations. Other activities include a dunk tank, balloon animals, face painting, temporary tattoos and more. Food vendors will be stationed around the park to sell refreshments throughout the day.

Participants are encouraged to bring blankets and lawn chairs for the fireworks display at 9:30 p.m. Parents whose children are enrolled at the Child Development Center should note that the CDC will close early and the road leading to the CDC will close to incoming traffic at approximately 2:30 p.m. in preparation for the festivities.