917th Wing hosts Clergy Day 2010

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Crystal M. Jordan
  • 917th Wing Public Affairs Office
Barksdale Air Force Base, La. --  The 917th Wing, Barksdale Air Force Base, La., welcomed pastors and spiritual leaders from the local community onto Barksdale for the wing's 2010 Clergy Day on Feb. 5.

Clergy Day gives local spiritual leaders in the surrounding community the opportunity to see exactly what their Reserve Airmen do while they are here on base. The individuals were invited to the event, and escorted by 917th servicemembers and personnel.

The day began with a luncheon at the Barksdale Club on base where they were briefed on the important role their support plays in the daily life of a Reserve Airman by Lt. Col. Scott Adams, a chaplain for the 917th Wing. They were also greeted and briefed on the mission of the wing and its Airmen by 917th Wing Commander, Brig. Gen. Edmund Walker.

The meal was followed by a tour of Chapel One, a historic location on Barksdale. During this tour the group learned about their military counterparts and what they do for Airmen here on base every day.

After visiting Chapel One, the group embarked on a windshield tour of Barksdale ending their adventure at Hangar One, the largest hangar on base.

Outside Hanger One, a B-52 Stratofortress and A-10 Thunderbolt II static were on display. Lt. Col. Bruce Gootee, assistant director of operations for the 93rd Bomb Squadron here briefed the visitors and answered numerous questions about the B-52 aircraft.

Capt. Adam Ratican, an instructor pilot for the 47th Fighter Squadron fielded questions about the A-10, also known as the "Warthog."

The day was brought to a close as the clergymen left the flight line to return to the Barksdale Club where the day began.

Leaving Barksdale, they took with them a new-found understanding of the uniformed personnel who sit within their congregations. They took with them the knowledge gained during Clergy Day about the missions, stresses and expectations of these servicemembers. They also took with them an answer; an answer as to how they can help.

The clergymen who participated in the day's events gained an understanding in how they are able to support their Airmen's missions.

Support them.