LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. –
To honor the Air Force's 64th birthday this year, a military retreat ceremony is scheduled for Sept. 16 at Langley's Memorial Park at 4 p.m.
Master Sgt. Jason Simas, 633d Contracting Squadron first sergeant said the Air Force Birthday Retreat is a great opportunity for all of Team Langley to show respect to our flag and to mark the Air Force birthday.
"Honoring the flag at retreat ceremonies is a long-standing tradition. The ceremony serves a two-fold purpose. It signals the end of the official duty day and serves as a ceremony for paying respect to our nation's flag," said Simas, adding that bleachers and chairs will be provided for everyone in attendance.
This retreat, hosted by the 633rd Air Base Wing, will feature full military honors, including an honor guard and troop formations from the 633rd ABW, Air Combat Command Headquarters, 1st Fighter Wing, 735th Supply Chain Operations Group, and the 480th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing. Chief Master Sergeant Martin Klukas, HQ ACC command chief, will be the guest speaker.
The National Security Act of 1947 became law on July 26, 1947. It created the Department of the Air Force, headed by a Secretary of the Air Force.
Under the Department of the Air Force, the act established the United States Air Force, headed by the Chief of Staff, USAF. On Sept. 18, 1947, W. Stuart Symington became Secretary of the Air Force, and on Sept. 26, Gen. Carl A. Spaatz became the USAF's first Chief of Staff.
For more information on the retreat, contact Simas at 764-2175. You can also find more information on Air Force history on the Air Force's official history website at
www.airforcehistory.af.mil.