Buckley celebrates Air Force, base heritage

Published Sept. 20, 2013
By Senior Airman Marcy Copeland
460th Space Wing Public Affairs

BUCKLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- Buckley has scheduled its Air Force Ball Sept. 27, not only to celebrate the heritage of the Air Force, but also to pay homage to 1st Lt. John Harold "Buck" Buckley and the legacy that is Buckley Air Force Base.

Buckley will celebrate the Air Force's 66th birthday with a time-honored tradition, a formal military ball.

The theme relates to how Buckley AFB has grown and changed over the years. From an Army Air Corps bomber base to a space command military installation.

"It is easier than you would think to forget about the legacy that preceded your time at an installation," said Capt. Emily Dietrich, 460th Space Wing director of complaint resolutions. "Whenever possible, we should remember what was, what is and what may come. We are now taking this opportunity to remind our current tenants of the rich history that surrounds us each and every day."

In 1942, 5,740 acres of land was bought to be used as an Army Air Corps technical school and was named in honor of 1st Lt. Buckley, who was killed during World War I, Sept. 27, 1918.

Celebrating the Air Force's birthday reminds Airmen to look at where they have come from. The base is hard to compare in size to many other military installations, but the mission is one of the largest. Knowing how Buckley AFB transitioned from air to space is a legacy that Team Buckley Airmen will have the opportunity to learn about at the Air Force Ball.

"Understanding our heritage helps us better understand the responsibilities we have as Airmen," said Chief Master Sgt. Richard Halseth, 460th Space Communication Squadron operations flight chief. "Being faithful to a proud heritage is part of the Airman's Creed. People say it, but do they believe in it? Celebrating our heritage gives us that opportunity, but it is also our responsibility to honor it."

On Sept. 27, Team Buckley will honor 1st Lt. Buckley when Airmen make a toast to the Air Force and its legacy.

For more information or tickets, contact your unit's Air Force Ball representative. Tickets for the Air Force Ball will be on sale until Sept. 23.

1Lt. John Harold “Buck” Buckley