DAY 26: Class Picture Day

Wed, 21 September 2005

I’m sure all of you have gone thru this at least once a year while we were all in school. The prerequisite group picture that requires everyone to assemble and pose. Yes, though we are in a combat zone, even we have one of these pictures for the hallway that marks every AEF (Air Expeditionary Force) cycle. The current Air Force military rotation is AEF 7 & 8, with AEF 7 assigned to Operation Enduring Freedom. The Renegades will understand this comment – SEVEN! Anyway, I digress.

It’s late afternoon and temps are in the high 90s. We assemble on the flightline and then the props are added: our rescue helicopter, a k-loader as a backstage platform and a security forces HMMMV to provide the complement of military equipment. First picture consists all of us from the Air Force Village and it’s a good picture of all the Air Force folks at this location. Afterwards, the folks from my home unit stand fast and we pull out a full-length American flag I had brought to this event. I acquired the very LAST flag from Supply and ensured that it was placed onboard the rescue helicopters to fly the skies of Afghanistan for several combat rescue missions. Ultimately, the intention is that our deployed group will be presenting this flag to our home unit upon our return. So, with flag on hand, I directed several folks to begin the ceremonial unfurling of this precious American symbol. We then carefully lifted the flag onto the k-loader so the top would be secured along the railing. Another group pulled out the bottom and in a tilted position, old glory was in its full display. Finally, all of us from my home unit reassembled and we gave our best pose. The photographers were on top of an elevated platform and took some great pictures. This moment will likely be the one that lasts a lifetime in our home unit’s display case.