Hanscom to honor heroes Published Jan. 4, 2007 By 2nd Lt. Lisa Spilinek 66th Air Base Wing Public Affairs Hanscom AFB -- A Heroes' Homecoming celebration will be held Jan. 19 to honor Hanscom personnel who have returned from deployments during the past six months. The free event will be held in the Aero Club Hangar and will begin at 3:30 p.m.; the entire base community is welcome to attend. "We'd like to see as many people as possible come out to support these very deserving individuals," said Col. Tom Schluckebier, 66th Air Base Wing commander. "To leave your family and country for months at a time and go where your life may be at risk requires courage and sacrifice. This event is an opportunity for everyone to show our appreciation for their service and celebrate their safe return," Colonel Schluckebier said. The Heroes' Homecoming will be a pep-rally type of celebration and will include live entertainment featuring the Air Force Band of Liberty Afterburner ensemble, a performance by Hanscom's new dance team, The Hanscomettes, sponsors' booths and children's activities, said Marika Trantanella, 66th Services Squadron and one of the event's coordinators. Barbecue chicken and other assorted food items as well as beverages will be provided by the Minuteman Club. "This is going to be a family-friendly event to celebrate the return of members to our "Hanscom family," said Master Sgt. Michael Cleator, 642nd Electronic Systems Squadron and a chairperson for the event. "Spouses and children of returned deployers will also be acknowledged for their sacrifices during their loved ones' deployments." The upcoming Heroes' Homecoming will celebrate those deployers who returned to Hanscom during the past six months, but the event coordinators plan to hold celebrations twice a year to honor future returning deployers, Sergeant Cleator said. "It's important to recognize these Airmen for who they are -- they are all heroes," Colonel Schluckebier said. The Hansconian staff is seeking photos of returned deployers for inclusion in a video to be shown during the event. Servicemembers or their families should e-mail high-resolution photos (300 dots per inch) in JPEG format to Hanscom.Hans conian@hanscom.af.mil by Tuesday for possible inclusion in the video.