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Grand Forks Airmen make preparations for Air Force Ball

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Ryan Sparks
  • 319th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  Airmen are making preparations for the Air Force Ball that will take place here on Sept. 11, 2015, in the 3-Bay Hangar.

Capt. Eric Thomas, 319th Operations Support Squadron airfield operations flight commander, said there are almost 40 Airmen working hard to make the Air Force Ball successful.

"We have six committees planning every detail from tickets and fundraising to entertainment and clean-up," said Thomas. "This is a huge project and a lot of extremely creative Airmen are putting their heart and soul into it to make sure the celebration is a success."

The event will begin at 5:30 p.m. and is limited to 500 tickets. Tickets can be purchased on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. through Sept. 4, 2015 at the Exchange. Tickets vary in price depending on your rank.

The Air Force Ball is held annually to celebrate the birthday of the Air Force which is Sept. 18, 1947. Thomas said this year the event will focus on the Air Force's progression through time.

"The Air Force Ball is about celebrating the Air Force's birthday and our heritage and recognizing that we have spent 68 years becoming the greatest Air Force in the world," said Thomas. "This year the theme, 'A Walk through the Decades,' takes a look at the Air Force from 1947 through today, remembering where we started and recognizing how far we have come."

The speaker for the event, Lt. Gen. William J. Bender, Chief, Information Dominance and Chief Information Officer, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, is a link to the history of Grand Forks AFB. Bender is the former commander of the 319th Air Refueling Wing at Grand Forks AFB.

Thomas feels it is important that Airmen of all ranks attend the event.

"I know the senior ranking Airmen will be there because they have spent the last 20-30 years making our Air Force what it is and they take great pride in the fact that they have played a part in that heritage," said Thomas. "Equally important is the new guard; the future Air Force leaders who will realize our goals of air supremacy through amazing new technologies.  This is their chance to recognize the opportunity that they have been given, not only to be in the greatest Air Force in the world, but to be at Grand Forks Air Force Base where we are changing the way the world looks at unmanned aircraft.  The Airmen on this base are here at the right time; we are making history, and it is important that they recognize this and show their pride in being the best of the best."

Airman 1st Class Chakaris Lewis, 319th Force Support Squadron career development technician, is one of several Airmen auditioning to be an emcee for the event. She said she feels it would be a great experience for an Airman 1st Class to be able to emcee an event in front of all different ranks.

For more information, contact Capt. Eric Thomas at 701-747-3859.