Remembering those who serve on the Holidays Published July 10, 2015 By Col. James Fisher 14th Flying Training Wing Vice Commander COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- As we just recently celebrated the Independence Day Holiday, while we were enjoying time off with our families and enjoyed the close relationship with our local area partners and the fantastic fireworks display and celebration at the Stennis Lock and Dam, there were those around the world who were manning posts, flying missions, providing medical care and keeping bases and outposts operating all over the world. The opportunity to enjoy much needed down time is definitely a benefit to being assigned to a stateside base. However, any time there is a holiday on the calendar, there are certain jobs that never enjoy "down time." For Security Forces Airman who is pulling guard mount duty at one of our entry control points, the mission continues even on federal holidays. To the aerial port squadron at one of the Air Mobility Command bases, the cargo flow never stops to recognize a holiday. When deployed, Airmen work through holidays, birthdays, Thanksgiving, Christmas and all other significant days we may take for granted working back here at Columbus Air Force Base. One of the greatest displays of commitment like this for me personally came on a rainy fall day while working in the National Capital Region a few years back. Some family had come to town and we had made plans to do some tourist sightseeing in Washington, D.C. for the day. We were used to showing people around the city and normally hit all the sights like the Capitol, the White House, the Washington Monument as well as a few of the museums in town. On this particular day, the wind was blowing and the rain was cold. We had boarded the Tourmobile, which is like a tourist train that stops frequently at all the significant spots, allows you to disembark, see a particular sight, then hop on the next available trolley. We stopped at Arlington National Cemetery and made our way toward the tomb of the unknown soldier. I fully expected to see the tomb with no guard patrolling due to the weather conditions that day. What I saw, however, was the same commitment displayed by dedicated professionals all over the world each day. The proud member of the Old Guard who is charged with keeping watch over the tomb of the unknown, was just as crisp, just as precise, and wore the signature darkened black sunglasses just as if it had been a sunny, 65 degree day, even though it was about fifty degrees and blowing rain. I think it gave me more pride, and consequently more determination to go out and do my job the best I knew how, knowing he was continuing in the rain, undeterred by the conditions. This past Fourth of July holiday, in the CENTCOM AOR, was likely over one hundred and ten degrees, with blowing sand and all sorts of other distractions. Our Airmen were performing in harsh conditions, without days off to ensure the mission goes on without stopping as do all our AORs around the world. While I certainly enjoyed the holiday with my family, I always try to remember those members who didn't have the opportunity to celebrate with theirs and I ask you to consider remembering all those who serve without pause on holidays or any other day when the mission needs to get done. They are truly the protectors of Independence Day and are deserving of our thanks for a job extremely well done.
