ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Airmen from the 97th Air Mobility Wing participated in a Veterans Day assembly at Navajo Public School and Altus High School, Nov. 10, 2021.
Master Sgt. Bradley Edwards, 97th Air Mobility Wing commander's action group superintendent, spoke at the event to give insight into what it is like to serve on active duty and why Veterans Day is important.
“One amazing thing about being in the military and most veterans probably share, is that you meet so many different and unique people in a short amount of time and you become a family with them,” said Edwards.
The AAFB Honor Guard “Blue Knights” performed the posting of the Colors during the playing of the National Anthem to honor veterans and those serving.
“The Honor Guard represents every single person in uniform. This is why they don't have name tapes,” said Staff Sgt. Cristhian Roldan, 97th Air Mobility Wing religious affairs Airman. “Just seeing them presenting colors and rendering those honors for Veterans Day was great to experience.”
Edwards reminded family and friends to support their troops by simply asking them a question about their time in the military.
“Whether you serve for one day or a decade, you are always a veteran,” said Edwards. “Take this Veterans Day to think about all who have served and are serving and the things they’ve seen, the sacrifices they’ve made and challenges they’ve faced.”
Veterans Day is not only for civilians to thank service members and veterans for their service, but also for active duty members to remember why they serve.
“We are following a legacy,” said Roldan. “If it wasn't for those veterans that served before us, I would not be able to continue following in their footsteps and making our nation better every day.”