Travis joins local community in honoring veterans

Members of the 60th Air Mobility Wing, followed by members of the 615th Contingency Response Wing, marched down Kentucky Street during the City of Fairfield’s Veterans Day Parade, Nov.11. Members from the 349th Air Mobility Wing also participated in the parade. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Candy Knight/ 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs)

Travis joins local community in honoring veterans

Master Sgt. Diane Payton, (left), 60th Surgical Operations Squadron, leads her troops down the road during the City of Fairfield’s sixth annual Veterans Day Parade Nov. 11. Women led all four of the Travis’ formations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Candy Knight/ 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs)

Travis joins local community in honoring veterans

Members of the Travis Honor Guard marched down Kentucky Street during the City of Fairfield’s Veterans Day Parade, Nov. 11. Members from the 60th Air Mobility Wing, 349th AMW and the 615th Contingency Response Wing participated in this year’s parade, marching through historic downtown Fairfield along with several marching bands, floats and vehicles from around the area. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Candy Knight/60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs)

Travis joins local community in honoring veterans

An all-female flight formation keeps in step as its marches down Kentucky Street during the City of Fairfield’s sixth annual Veterans Day parade. All four of Travis' formations were commanded by women. The city dedicated this year’s Veterans Day parade and other activities to female veterans. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Candy Knight/ 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs)

Travis joins local community in honoring veterans

Col. Tom Sharpy, 60th Air Mobility Wing vice commander, speaks with a member of the Fairfield Fire Department. Approximately 142 Team Travis members participated in this year’s parade. Colonel Sharpy was one of the parade’s grand marshals. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Candy Knight/ 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs)

Travis joins local community in honoring veterans

Airmen from the Sgt. Paul P. Ramoneda Airman Leadership School marched down Kentucky Street during the City of Fairfield’s Veterans Day Parade, Nov.11. Members from the 60th Air Mobility Wing, 349th AMW and the 615th Contingency Response Wing also participated in this year’s parade, which was dedicated to women veterans. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Candy Knight/ 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs)

Travis joins local community in honoring veterans

Published Nov. 16, 2006
By Staff Sgt. Candy Knight
60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

FAIRFIELD, Calif. -- Amid the cheers and applause, 142 members of Team Travis marched down Kentucky Street as part of the City of Fairfield's sixth annual Veterans Day Parade Nov. 11.

Members from the 60th Air Mobility Wing, 349th AMW and the 615th Contingency Response Wing participated in this year's parade, marching through historic downtown Fairfield along with several marching bands, floats and vehicles from around the area.

The City of Fairfield dedicated this year's activities to female veterans, to which Travis showed its support by having all four of its flights commanded by women and dedicating one of them as an all-female flight.

"Although I believe men and women served the military the same way, for the City of Fairfield to dedicated its activities and highlight women veterans really instilled a sense of pride in me," said Master Sgt. Eilene Nielsen, Flight chief of the Sgt. Paul P. Ramoneda Airman Leadership School.

"I felt so proud to wear the uniform when I heard and saw the crowd cheer for the military members marching down the street," said Staff Sgt. Maria Testut, the 60th AMW command chief's executive assistant. "It was such an honor to be able to see each of the proud military members from the young Reserve Officer Training Corps troops, to the active and Reserve military men and women, to our retired heroes that came marching through. I am very lucky to have been a part of such an uplifting event."

For the individuals who volunteered to march, the opportunity was one filled with pride and emotion.

"Hearing the cheers and 'thank you' as we marched down the street made me feel very appreciated," said Master Sgt. Michael Lawrence, 572nd Global Mobility Readiness Squadron.

"Seeing the crowd, hearing their cheers and knowing that they support us remotivated me and reminded me of why I joined the Air Force," said Staff Sgt. Allen Horton, 572nd GMRS.

Sergeant Horton also said that he was happy to see the large number of Airmen come out and take part in the event.

"It felt really good to see all the Airmen out there and to know that they gave up their spare time to march in the parade shows exactly how much being an Air Force member means to them."