Hill celebrates Air Force birthday

  • Published
  • By Mary Lou Gorny
  • Hilltop Times Editor
HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah --  On a day packed with excitement, including the ceremony for the F-35 Lightning II's maintenance program, the base paused long enough to celebrate the Air Force's 66th anniversary with dinner and a ball.

Earlier that day, a special ceremony was held to commemorate the F-35A Lightning II's arrival on base for maintenance and sustainment.

"I am going to start at the very beginning with what I want you to take away," said Lt. Gen. Bruce Litchfield, Air Force Sustainment Center commander, as he addressed the crowd. "I am very proud of what Team Hill contributes to our Air Force. You bring it every day and what you bring is Airpower. "

He continued, "I am proud of what Airpower does for the security of our nation, and I am proud of our nation and of what our flag represents. But just as important, I am proud of our Airmen and our Airmen who make up Team Hill."

Litchfield explained that when he spoke of Airmen he meant Airman with a capital "A," including men and women in uniform, civilians, industrial base partners and community leaders.

"Together we are the big 'A' Airmen, and supply Airpower any place, any time, that our nation needs it," he said.

"As Airmen, we really are stewards of our heritage, a remarkable history that began with the first flight at Kitty Hawk and (which) continues to be written all around the globe," said Litchfield as he continued on the theme of the ball, "Honoring our history, forging our future."

"Since 1947 we have supported our nation in wars, conflicts, operations and humanitarian relief operations, first through air, then space and now cyberspace," he said.

"While our platforms have changed, and the programs have changed, our commitment to our nation has not," he continued.

"We can, and should, look at our past with pride. We must guard our heritage as we seek to engage our future ... for some, the future today is thoroughly mirrored with uncertainty," he said as he described a scenario with challenges, lack of resources and people -- revealing that he was describing the Air Force as it stood in the 1970s.

"Since that time, we have been able to retool and posture our forces for success," he emphasized. "Since then, we won the Cold War; we responded to the attacks on 9/11, we defended our mission. We are a dominant force today."

"Our Air Force has a rich history of leaders arising when we need them most," he said. "We must put forth our drive not with fear and trepidation but with courage and hope."

"The spirit of innovation is shaping the Air Force, and we must capitalize on its strength," he concluded as he brought forward the message that top leadership is looking for better ways to do things, including controlling costs.

"We are American Airmen, our mission is to fly, fight and win. We are capable and have a proud heritage and it is our turn to launch into an endless horizon. We will do so and we will succeed and we will leave no one behind," he said.

"The future is up to us. And I know we are up to the challenge," Litchfield said as he thanked Team Hill for the opportunity to come and participate in the evening's celebration.

In her remarks, Col. Kathryn Kolbe, 75th Air Base Wing commander, reflected on the history of Hill AFB and its beginnings in 1940 when the Army broke ground for what was then called Hill Field in honor of Maj. Ployer Hill, an Air Force pilot who lost his life while flying a B-17 bomber prototype.

She recounted some of the base's contributions to past wars and conflicts and its connection to several superior weapons platforms.

"We became the first to have a fighter wing fly the F-16 in 1979," she said as she commented on some of its remarkable achievements including those found at the Utah Test and Training Range.

"Today, Hill continues to have an impact in our nation's defense, and the future is very bright," Kolbe said.

She listed current platforms and aircraft the base currently supports and described the addition of the F-35 maintenance and support with excitement and added that it was expected to be in production for many years to come.

Kolbe emphasized that Hill Airmen will continue to fight the nation's wars just as they have in the past seven years and the large number of deployments the base has supported.

Along that theme, several members who could not attend the ball due to deployments sent video clips, which were broadcasted throughout the evening.

To add to the festivities, the 23rd Utah National Guard Band provided music throughout the evening for the ceremonial moments and the dance portion of the evening.