Base honors Mid-South retirees Tech support veteran, Donald Burns, of Columbus, (right) laughs with former Maj. Ralph Smith, of Quitman, at their table Friday morning during the Retiree Appreciation lunch at the Columbus Air Force Base. Photo by: Luisa Porter/ Dispatch Staff
Military retirees received a warm 'thank you' Saturday as Columbus Air Force Base opened its doors for its annual Retiree Appreciation Day.
"We pay homage to them for their sacrifices and, in turn, they are advocates for what we do today at Columbus," said Capt.Terry Wagner, manpower and personnel flight commander at CAFB.
Nearly 180 retirees from around the mid-south were treated to a meal, tours of CAFB and an address from 14th Flying Training Wing Commander Col. Roger Watkins.
Wagner says the base owes retirees recognition for their past service as well as their ongoing efforts to promote the base.
"(Retirees help CAFB) not only in the ways they say thank you to us, but they also lobby with political constituents to make sure we get infrastructure upgrades and quality of life improvements for Airmen that are here," Wagner said.
Roger Bahr, an Air Force retiree who served for 22 years, was attending Retiree Appreciation Day for the first time.
"I didn't know there were so many (retirees) around. There's a bunch of them. I think there's a few of them in here older than I am," Bahr said.
Elwin Broughton, who spent four years on active duty with the Air Force and 26 years on active reserve in Milwaukee, Wis., lives in the area with his wife, Brenda, a native of New Albany.
"I told her when I retired I would bring her home, so we're here in Mississippi," Broughton said.
The Broughtons were attending their second Retiree Appreciation Day.
"I love it. I think it's a great thing," said Broughton. "You get to see all the retirees and I like the camaraderie."
Richard Moton moved home to Tuscaloosa following his 21 years in the Air Force. He visits CAFB once every couple of months to shop at the commissary. Moton has also attended Retiree Appreciation Day most years since 1980.
"I think it's a good idea to get together with the guys and get an update on information. It's a real good program," Moton said.
The information came courtesy of the organizations like the base medical group and veterans' affairs administration group who, along with other retiree support groups, set up information booths to speak with retirees.
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