Airmen: past, present and future.

Remarks at the Air Force 60th Anniversary Wreath-Laying Ceremony, Air Force Memorial Arlington, Va. Sept. 18, 2007

Mr. Secretary, General Moseley, Admiral Mullen, Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Bowen, other distinguished guests, and fellow Airmen--thank you for being here to commemorate our Air Force's 60th Anniversary. This is a great day and I am honored to be here with you.

As we assemble here to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Air Force becoming an independent Service, I think it is very fitting that we should gather at this place of honor to open today's festivities. This monument is indeed a modern day marvel, but the legacy upon which it was built transcends the engineering feat before us.

This monument represents all Airmen past and present who have sacrificed so much in the name of freedom and helped to make our nation strong.

Our Air Force is built on a proud heritage of pioneering Airmen. Airmen who made significant contributions to manned flight and played key roles in developing what is today the world's most feared Air Force.

Pioneers like:

* Lt. Benjamin Foulois, who after receiving only basic instruction from the Wright brothers, taught himself to fly the U.S. Army Signal Corps' only aircraft, Signal Aeroplane Number 1, and would later become the first Chief of the Air Corps who was actually a military aviator.

* Brig. Gen. Billy Mitchell, who led a crusade to convince U.S. political and military leadership of the absolute need to develop and better orchestrate air power.

* Gen. Henry "Hap" Arnold, known as the "Father of the Air Force," who led the Allied Forces air arm to victory during World War II.

* Esther Blake, the first woman in the Air Force, who enlisted the very first minute women were authorized to serve in the active-duty Air Force.

* And, Chief Master Sergeant Paul Airey, who 40 years ago in 1967 became the first Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force.

These men and women of great vision served as an inspiration to the warriors who followed in their footsteps.

Airmen like:

* Staff Sgt. Henry "Red" Erwin, who in 1945 grasped a malfunctioned, burning phosphorous bomb with his bare hands and threw it out of his B-29 aircraft, saving the aircraft and 12 crewmembers.

* Airman 1st Class William Pitsenbarger, who in 1966--during a daring attempt to evacuate wounded soldiers from a jungle battlefield--was killed by enemy fire.

* And, Tech. Sgt. John Chapman and Senior Airman Jason Cunningham, who in 2002 paid the ultimate price protecting their brothers on an isolated mountain top in Afghanistan.

These Airmen demonstrated amazing valor, and are an incredible testament to the thousands of courageous Airmen who have served our Service and our nation throughout our history.

From World War I to the Global War on Terror more than 55,000 brave Airmen have given their lives in the name of freedom. These American men and women were not unlike you and me. They were ordinary Airmen doing their part for the nation when extraordinary circumstances occurred and they stepped up to become heroes.

In fact, at this very hour Airmen are in harm's way accepting their no-fail mission and taking the fight to the enemy.

They are traversing dangerous mountain passes ensuring the security of convoys and delivering critical supplies to forward operating bases; they are embedded with Special Forces teams, always on the ready to call in lethal close-air support; they are providing life-saving critical medical care to the wounded; they are patrolling dangerous urban environments searching for and defeating improvised explosive devices; and they are operating complex intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems to find, fix and destroy the enemy.

Our Airmen have answered their nation's call; they defend their country with their lives; they are wingmen, leaders and warriors.

And, so, as we come together on this beautiful, peaceful day to kick off these exciting activities celebrating our rich heritage, I ask each of you to remember those pioneering Airmen who came before us, those currently serving in harm's way and those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in the defense of our nation. Keep them and their families in your thoughts and prayers.

As our Air Force continues to fight and win the Global War on Terror, modernize its air, space and cyberspace assets, and continue to develop and care for our Airmen, I urge all Airmen to move into the future with a clear purpose and focused resolve. In another 60 years Airmen will stand under the same banner of freedom and tell amazing tales of heroes on the battlefield. You will have been part of that tradition of honor and legacy of valor.

Again, I want to thank you for making this day of celebration memorable.

Please enjoy your Air Force's 60th Anniversary!

Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Rodney J. McKinley