DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Tailgate Forum Air Force Day

Air Force Day was established on August 1, 1947, by President Truman "in recognition of the personnel of the victorious Army Air Forces and all those who have developed and maintained our nation's air strength." August 1 was chosen to mark the 40th anniversary of the establishment, in 1907, of the Aeronautical Division in the Office of the Chief Signal Officer of the Army.

Air Force Day came into being immediately after the signing of the National Security Act of 1947, although the status of the air element of the military was uncertain. Thus, although it was called Air Force Day, its first celebration was staged by the Army Air Forces and not by the U.S. Air Force.

Underlying the Air Force Day celebration was a need to increase "both official and public awareness of the priority of importance of air forces in any system of national security," according to Mr. Truman. "The great strategic fact of our generation is that the United States now possesses live frontiers -- the frontiers of the air -- and that the oceans are no longer sure ramparts against attack."

In his message to the nation on the first Air Force Day, Mr. Truman said, "I remind all of our citizens that the air power of the nation is essential to the preservation of our liberty, and that the continued development of the science of air transportation is vital to the trade and commerce of a peaceful world."

Air Force Day was last observed on August 1, 1949.

We need to bring this holiday back! (No bias ) seriously though I just thought I would post this for the military buffs on the board.


Link

Do we get to decorate air force trees and sing air force carols? If so, I'm in!!

I'm waiting for the Air Force Santa to parachute down my chimney with a bag full of presents for me.

Start practicing, imagine singing this song every damn morning for 6 straight weeks, oh the joy!


Off we go into the wild blue yonder,
Climbing high into the sun;
Here they come zooming to meet our thunder,
At 'em boys, Give 'er the gun!
Down we dive, spouting our flame from under,
Off with one hell of a roar!*
We live in fame or go down in flame.
Nothing can stop the U.S. Air Force!

Minds of men fashioned a crate of thunder,
Sent it high into the blue;
Hands of men blasted the world asunder;
How they lived God only knew! (God only knew!)
Souls of men dreaming of skies to conquer
Gave us wings, ever to soar!
With scouts before And bombers galore.
Nothing can stop the U.S. Air Force!


Here's a toast to the host
Of those who love the vastness of the sky,
To a friend we send a message of his brother men who fly.
We drink to those who gave their all of old,
Then down we roar to score the rainbow's pot of gold.
A toast to the host of men we boast, the U.S. Air Force!

Off we go into the wild sky yonder,
Keep the wings level and true;
If you'd live to be a grey-haired wonder
Keep the nose out of the blue! (Out of the blue, boy!)
Flying men, guarding the nation's border,
We'll be there, followed by more!
In echelon we carry on.
Nothing can stop the U.S. Air Force!

Oh dear. Do we have to march?

Yes, and your playin the Tuba.

And I suppose you are playing the flute again...

nah, they won't let me after sticking it in my nose last year. They said this year i had to walk behind the band and pick up any drum sticks that the drummers drop.

Why are they eating chicken when they march?

Yes KFC, didn't you Colonel Sanders was a Colonel in the Air Force.

Nice song glorifying voilence, death, war, and drinking... the Air Force should get a new song, something by ABBA would be nice....

How about something by R.E.M. instead? Perhaps 'Shiny Happy People' ?

Non-shiny people might find that offensive since it will be endorsed by our government.

perhaps we can get them to change the lyrics to 'Non-Descript Moodless Inhabitants' ?

Not only is that quite catchy, it's probably more accurate.

Funny thread. You guys crack me up.


On a slightly different note:

This August 28, I'll be at Wright-Patterson AFB. My best friend from grade school on will be promoted to Colonel- "full bird"... after which, he'll be heading to Washington DC for his new assignment.

He's asked me to be a part of his "pinning-on" ceremony. I'm flattered and humbled by the invitation, and am honored to be a part of it.

If you've never seen one of these ceremonies, you can't possibly know what you're missing. It's simple, direct... and very moving. As cynical as I am, I have to admit- I was emotionally effected on a very deep level when I was there for his previous promotion. Made me feel proud to be his friend and extremely proud to be an American. Hope I can keep it together... I'd hate to stab him with his new decoration or something.

Guys & Gals- it's a fun thread so far- but I'll take a moment today to (privately) pay tribute to our friends and family who have served on behalf of us all.

thanks for the thread, and thanks for your time.

Clemdawg

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I'd hate to stab him with his new decoration or something.

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If the upper-tier of officer ranks is anything like the enlisted ranks, he's gonna get plenty of that anyway.... so I wouldn't sweat it

For us enlisted, it was considered bad luck to not get your new stripes "tacked on"... which means anyone and everyone of your new rank or above punching the living hell out of those new stripes as hard as they can to "make sure they don't fall off". Pinnings were a little worse because they'd make you wear the pin without the brass backings... and then they'd tack em on, so your chest would look like you were attacked by a box of rabid thumbtacks

Dawgs....


be it hereby acknowledged that we have an authentic "tough guy" in our ranks....



Purp (the human pincushion...),
-you da man!

lol! not even... it was just one of them goofy things ya go through, like Shellback, or Boot Camp.

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I'd hate to stab him with his new decoration or something.

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Isn't that how John Kerry got his 7th Purple Heart?

No no no...that was his 5th......You were thinking of that vicious papercut he received while filing the paperwork for his 6th Purple Heart when he stubbed his toe while jumping from the Swift Boat.....

I don't think they do the "tacking on" ceremony for officers at that level, at least in the Air Force. Now butterballs when they graduate from the academy they get tacked, and the first person who does this gets a coin from the 2LT.

If I remember correctly, when Ben Miller was stationed at WPAFB, I was friends with his academy roommate, and their was a story behind his coin, a funny one, but just can't remember if it was him or someone else.

Clem, if you get a chance or just have some time to kill check out the Air Force museum, it is a pretty neat place (free admission) to walk through.

When I put on my second stripe, the base softball team did a number to my arm, since I was the youngest person on the team (age and rank) they had there way with me, LOL.

Jules- you sweetie.

Thank for the invite. If "Plan A" fails, I might take you up on it.


I have a line on tix to the Bears game that night, and just might try to do both.

The ceremony is at 13:00. If I skeedadle, I can get back home, pick up my Homie, and get to CBS in time for the game. Don't know yet.

It would be a blast to hang with you and your kennel, if I can't get to the game.

I'll "mapquest" Taggarts just in case...

Thanks you to you, your wife, and anyone else here who served in the AF that I overlooked. I wish I had the courage (and was fit enough to get in!) Most of all I wish there were words to describe and properly express my gratitude.

I spent six in the AF, helped me get my start in life, paid for college, let me see a little of the world, and gave me some of my closest friends. My Best friend finished his 30 last year, retiring as Chief Master Sergeant.

Love to him and all the wing nuts who've served and continue to serve.

This is to the Referees that you should archive this just for the posted lyrics to that song, having never had the opportunity to read them elsewhere.


NOT FOR NOTHING BUT!

O K maybe its just me but I think I overheard a news story about a week ago that tours of duty in Iraq were going to be shortened to 12 months from 15 months, and uhh,

WTF its like the 6th time since 02 I've heard that exact same line in a news story, What Gives? I guess since this is a military thread this can belong here.

Keep the team together.

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they had there way with me

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Do you have any idea how hard it's been to leave that hanging curveball alone???

Hey, just a heads up to all you active military folk out there. I'm here at Busch Gardens and they are doing a real nice jog saluting the military. The parks have a little section saluting the troops, the shows all start with a tribute which has ended in a standing ovation at every one I've been to.

Best of all, if you go to www.herosalute.com Busch is offering free admission to all active and on duty reserves to any Busch theme park. It's nice. We should treat our armend forces like this every day, every place. I could never bring myself to charge a person who came into my shop in BDUs. Maybe part of the reason my buisness went under, but I wouldn't change that.

Anyway, hats off to our servicemen and women. But for your sacrifice go the rest of us.