Retiree Appreciation Day honors past servicemembers Published Sept. 26, 2007 By 2nd Lt. Jennifer Richard Nellis Public Affairs NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev -- The Retiree Affairs Office hosted the annual Retiree Appreciation Day honoring southern Nevada's military retirees at the Thunderbirds hangar Sept. 22 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event offered an information fair, door prizes, entertainment, and visits to the Threat Training Facility to honor and thank the approximately 800 attending retirees. Major Gen. Michael Worden, commander of the U.S. Air Force Warfare Center, welcomed the retirees by sharing his appreciation for their service. "I am extremely grateful to be celebrating this great day with some of the finest men and women, past and present, serving in the world's greatest military," said General Worden. Colonel Michael Bartley, commander of the 99th Air Base Wing, also offered the retirees his personal thanks. "Thank you for your service, thank you for what you've done for this nation, and thank you for paving the road that we continue to walk today," said Colonel Bartley. The day's activities later included a speech by retired Chief Master Sgt. Denver Bolster, reminding the retirees of their benefits and encouraging them to take full advantage of available services. Ongoing throughout the day was the information fair, which featured 53 vendors. Retirees could learn about health care, banking options, educational opportunities, and more. Free medical screenings were available to the retirees throughout the day, courtesy of the 99th Medical Group. The retirees were offered a free lunch, including hamburgers, hot dogs, chips, sodas, and a selection of three celebratory cakes. Before and during lunch, they were entertained by musical performances by "Rumble Seat Daze" and "Sax Quartet." Active-duty servicemembers at the event were encouraged to remember military retirees not just on that day, but everyday. "Let us remember nothing, absolutely nothing, will keep us from vindicating the deep sacrifices of our veterans, many of whom paid the ultimate sacrifice," said General Worden. "We proudly look forward to our commitment to do the same, for our cause that is bigger than all of us." The Retiree Affairs Office, located in the Military Personnel Flight building, is open Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and offers services to the 42,000 military retirees residing in southern Nevada. For more information, please call Mr. Elbert Moore, director of Nellis' Retiree Affairs Office, at (702) 652-9978.
