Lowndes County Honors its Veterans

  • Published
  • 14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  Hundreds of parade participants gathered at the City of Columbus Municipal Police Complex on Saturday, Nov. 9 in honor of Veterans Day. The parade, ending at the Lowndes County Courthouse, brought over 400 local community members including a formation of 54 airmen from Columbus Air Force Base.

The parade was closely followed by a wreath laying ceremony where Col. Jim Sears, 14th Flying Training Wing Commander, served as the guest speaker.

"We owe so much to our veterans, and it is a debt that we can never truly repay," said Sears. "Their experiences are the bedrock on which our freedoms are built."

Columbus Air Force Base's formation of airmen was led by Col. David Vaughn, 14th Mission Support Group Commander. While the formation was originally intended to have 40 Airman marching, 54 Airman showed up to proudly march down Main Street.

Other base assets included 14th Security Forces Squadron patrol car, a military working dog team, and a sniper team dressed in ghille suits who walked alongside. 14th Civil Engineering Squadron's Fire and Emergency Services proudly displayed their vehicles Chief 1 and Crash 10, showcasing Columbus Air Force Base's emergency response excellence.

"It was a great event and wonderful opportunity to show appreciation for our veterans, both old and new," said 2nd Lt. Cory Concha, event officer for the Veterans Day Parade. "I was glad we had so much community support and base representation; it really made the impact of the ceremony that much stronger."