News

Retirees honored during appreciation day

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Danielle Powell
  • 14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
COLUMBUS AFB, Miss. --  More than 120 retirees were honored Saturday during the Retiree Appreciation Day at the Columbus Club from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

They received information from base agencies such as the pharmacy and TriCare and community information from various agencies including the Columbus-Lowndes Development Link. Enjoying a continental breakfast, they spent the greater part of the morning self-educating through more than 30 agencies. The Columbus Club prepared a special buffet lunch, followed by a speech by Capt. Kevin McMahon, 14th Security Forces Squadron. 

After the retirees enjoyed lunch, door prizes were given out. Tickets were drawn for participants to receive gift bags and gift certificates. The AAFES gift bags contained an AAFES catalog, gift certificates, various books, a teddy bear, perfume samples and other toiletry items. The ultimate prize for the day was a washing machine donated by the Columbus Commissary. 

The local exchange also held drawings, discount specials for retirees and the commissary held a case lot sale in conjunction with Retiree Appreciation Day. 

Second Lt. Steven Lewis, 14th Mission Support Squadron and the event coordinator, said the most successful part of the event was "that everyone had access to the booths." 

During Capt. McMahon's speech, he spoke to the retirees about his time while deployed in Camp Victory in Baghdad with the US Army. Capt. McMahon was tasked to go to the Multi National Corps Iraq Provost Marshall Office. He was in charge of about 107 K-9 units, six law and order detachments that did the day-to-day police work, and was the Senior Customs officer for U.S. Customs. He was then moved up to be a Corp-level planner with the police transitions team. He worked closely with Iraqi police officers and American civilian police officers, as well as police from all other branches of the military. 

Capt. McMahon introduced the audience to a few members of his team that were injured while in Baghdad. 

Capt McMahon was awarded a Bronze Star for his actions in Iraq. 

Many people volunteered time to make this year's event happen. In addition, the financial support of The American Legion Post 69, the Retired Officers Council and the Base Chapel helped to fund the breakfast that was available that morning and the door prizes that were given out. 

With over 100 retirees coming from several states, the message reverberated by 14th Mission Support Group Commander, Col. Mark Brown, 14th Flying Training Wing Command Chief Master Sergeant, Chief Master Sgt. Ron Bowlan, and Capt McMahon was "thank you for your service!"