An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

VFW Post 112 engineers celebration for deployers

  • Published
  • By Capt. Tim Wade
  • 931st ARG/PA
MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. --  Disc jockey Dave Snyder played former chart topping hit after hit to get the crowd of approximately 150 people to get on the dance floor at the Veterans of Foreign Wars' Post 112 on a late August evening. This was not your ordinary VFW crowd he prodded to get on the dance floor.

This party was for the members of the 931st Civil Engineer Squadron and their families. The Post wanted to do something special for the 931st Air Refueling Group, which it officially adopted in August 2003 and the perfect opportunity arose. About 30 members from the group's civil engineer squadron received orders to deploy to Iraq in support of Operation New Dawn in the late summer. The event required some creative coordination and most importantly-determination.

"We've always said, 'We need to do ____', fill in the blank," said Senior Master Sgt. Diane Hiebert, 18th Air Refueling Squadron's Operations Management superintendent and the VFW Post's Adjutant/Quartermaster.

"Well, this time I just pulled the trigger. I asked Maj. (now Lt. Col.) Erin Manning, 931st CES commander, who was one of the Airmen deployed and whose family attended, which night would be best, then went back to the Post and told them I'd invited CE for a Deployment Send-Off at 5 p.m. on Aug. 19. Fortunately for me, folks started moving the target around so the bullet hit the bull's-eye," she said.

The Post members spent roughly $400 on food and supplies and donated close to 80 volunteer hours in preparation and clean-up.

The celebration brought members out of hibernation as well.

"There were Post members there that evening who I have never met," said Sergeant Hiebert. "For whatever reason, they haven't come down to the canteen or attended meetings in the past several years. But, they came out for this event. They came out for the "kids" - they came out for the troops."

The effort did not go unappreciated by the unit.

"It meant a lot to the members that the VFW supported them and showed them great hospitality," said Maj. Ernest Herrera, acting 931st CES commander. "The families also felt important and cared for. To our unit, it means a lot that the VFW supports us and would be so kind to host a send off party for us."

If you are interested in learning more about the VFW's primary goal to "Honor the Dead by Helping the Living" please visit their website: www.vfw112.org or contact them via email: vfw112@yahoo.com