Retiree appreciation day a success
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --
Some came solo or with family members from all age groups. Some walked with the need of little assistance while others ran alongside their younger peers, but all made the best use of their Saturday morning and afternoon as more than 400 retirees and their dependents turned out for the annual Travis Retiree Appreciation Day at David Grant USAF Medical Center.
The six-hour themed event, "Honoring Those Who Led The Way," presented a host of activities at DGMC and Bldg. 381 for the most senior warriors residing in the northern California area.
"One of our biggest rocks this year was picking a date. We wanted to pick a date that did not conflict with a Unit Training Assembly weekend, or other pre-established base events," said Maj. Kathryn Kilker, 60th Civil Engineer Squadron operations flight commander, and overall project officer for this years' retiree appreciation day.
"Additionally, we wanted to expand the audience of who is typically considered a Retiree, the over 65 group, to try and capture more of the recent retirees, some as young as 37, to attend the event."
New this year was a 5K run and 3K walk around the DGMC campus. The inaugural event kicked off with 100 registrants, including 15 retirees and their dependents led by retired Chief Master Sgt. John Evalle, former 60th Air Mobility Wing command chief. Retirees were also able to renew their ID cards in Bldg. 381, while guest speakers and vendors from local community groups and service organizations staffed information booths in one of DGMC's outdoor courtyards.
A health fair in DGMC's patient mall hosted by 60th Medical Group personnel, a catered lunch by the Kinder's BBQ team with entertainment by Band of the Golden West members kept young and old alike engaged throughout the day. Exhibits featuring a demonstration of military working dogs by the 60th Security Forces Squadron and Travis Emergency Management's mobile command post highlighted other events outside DGMC's north entrance.
Retired Air Force Lt. Col. Shane Ostrom, certified financial planner and deputy director of the benefits information department of the Military Officers Association of America in Washington, D.C., served as special guest speaker. Ostrom provided a legislative update from MOAA which included sobering statistics on the decline in the number of elected congressional representatives with prior military service and the annual loss in purchasing power for those currently serving during the new era of Department of Defense budget reductions and sequestration.
Briefings on TRICARE, the Air Force Medical Service's MiCare online messaging service, Solano Veterans Affairs, Sacramento National Veterans Cemetery, legal and casualty assistance and DGMC's own urology and heart, lung and vascular clinics were also held in the medical center's auditorium, with retired Air Force Chief Master Sgt. George Moses serving as master of ceremonies.
Numerous door prizes featuring gift baskets and gift cards were drawn throughout the event.
"Overall, our retirees and participants rated the event 'Excellent,' which we are very thankful for," added Senior Master Sgt. Veronica Ross, 60th Aerospace Medicine Squadron superintendent of the Public Health flight and co-lead of retiree appreciation day events.
"It took a lot of time and effort from our committee members to ensure our retirees knew how appreciative we were for their service," Ross said. "The best part, based upon their feedback, was the health fair."
According to Ross, the "one-stop shop" convenience of using DGMC as the main venue allowed retirees to get their blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar checked while attending the health fair in the patient mall. Those who needed legal advice were able to get their advance directives, wills and other personal information tended to by the medical law consultant office.
"One retiree commented how grateful they were to have the active duty support to plan and execute the event on a weekend, especially knowing how busy we are during the week," Kilker said in relating some of the feedback received from attendees. "A few commented on how impressed they were of the eagerness of our volunteers to help them navigate the hospital and the vendors in any way they required. Another passed on that they were hesitant to attend the event, but were very glad that they did."
Meanwhile, more than 20 local community support groups representing the Tuskegee Airmen, Inc., Travis Chief's Group, Travis Exchange, Travis Federal Credit Union, National Association for Uniformed Services and the Retiree Affairs offices rounded out the affair.
"Our Golden Bear Airmen were able to share their current operational perspective, and learn about the military experiences of attending retirees and in doing so, 'Honoring Those Who Led the Way'," Kilker said. "There were too many people helping to make this event a success to name everyone, so our heartfelt thanks go out to the entire Travis Retiree Appreciation Committee and volunteers. You know who you are; our retirees appreciated your support."
The six-hour themed event, "Honoring Those Who Led The Way," presented a host of activities at DGMC and Bldg. 381 for the most senior warriors residing in the northern California area.
"One of our biggest rocks this year was picking a date. We wanted to pick a date that did not conflict with a Unit Training Assembly weekend, or other pre-established base events," said Maj. Kathryn Kilker, 60th Civil Engineer Squadron operations flight commander, and overall project officer for this years' retiree appreciation day.
"Additionally, we wanted to expand the audience of who is typically considered a Retiree, the over 65 group, to try and capture more of the recent retirees, some as young as 37, to attend the event."
New this year was a 5K run and 3K walk around the DGMC campus. The inaugural event kicked off with 100 registrants, including 15 retirees and their dependents led by retired Chief Master Sgt. John Evalle, former 60th Air Mobility Wing command chief. Retirees were also able to renew their ID cards in Bldg. 381, while guest speakers and vendors from local community groups and service organizations staffed information booths in one of DGMC's outdoor courtyards.
A health fair in DGMC's patient mall hosted by 60th Medical Group personnel, a catered lunch by the Kinder's BBQ team with entertainment by Band of the Golden West members kept young and old alike engaged throughout the day. Exhibits featuring a demonstration of military working dogs by the 60th Security Forces Squadron and Travis Emergency Management's mobile command post highlighted other events outside DGMC's north entrance.
Retired Air Force Lt. Col. Shane Ostrom, certified financial planner and deputy director of the benefits information department of the Military Officers Association of America in Washington, D.C., served as special guest speaker. Ostrom provided a legislative update from MOAA which included sobering statistics on the decline in the number of elected congressional representatives with prior military service and the annual loss in purchasing power for those currently serving during the new era of Department of Defense budget reductions and sequestration.
Briefings on TRICARE, the Air Force Medical Service's MiCare online messaging service, Solano Veterans Affairs, Sacramento National Veterans Cemetery, legal and casualty assistance and DGMC's own urology and heart, lung and vascular clinics were also held in the medical center's auditorium, with retired Air Force Chief Master Sgt. George Moses serving as master of ceremonies.
Numerous door prizes featuring gift baskets and gift cards were drawn throughout the event.
"Overall, our retirees and participants rated the event 'Excellent,' which we are very thankful for," added Senior Master Sgt. Veronica Ross, 60th Aerospace Medicine Squadron superintendent of the Public Health flight and co-lead of retiree appreciation day events.
"It took a lot of time and effort from our committee members to ensure our retirees knew how appreciative we were for their service," Ross said. "The best part, based upon their feedback, was the health fair."
According to Ross, the "one-stop shop" convenience of using DGMC as the main venue allowed retirees to get their blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar checked while attending the health fair in the patient mall. Those who needed legal advice were able to get their advance directives, wills and other personal information tended to by the medical law consultant office.
"One retiree commented how grateful they were to have the active duty support to plan and execute the event on a weekend, especially knowing how busy we are during the week," Kilker said in relating some of the feedback received from attendees. "A few commented on how impressed they were of the eagerness of our volunteers to help them navigate the hospital and the vendors in any way they required. Another passed on that they were hesitant to attend the event, but were very glad that they did."
Meanwhile, more than 20 local community support groups representing the Tuskegee Airmen, Inc., Travis Chief's Group, Travis Exchange, Travis Federal Credit Union, National Association for Uniformed Services and the Retiree Affairs offices rounded out the affair.
"Our Golden Bear Airmen were able to share their current operational perspective, and learn about the military experiences of attending retirees and in doing so, 'Honoring Those Who Led the Way'," Kilker said. "There were too many people helping to make this event a success to name everyone, so our heartfelt thanks go out to the entire Travis Retiree Appreciation Committee and volunteers. You know who you are; our retirees appreciated your support."
