Thank you Team Dyess

  • Published
  • By Col. Robert Gass
  • 7th Bomb Wing commander
DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Team Dyess--

Congratulations and thanks! You made our Air Force and Dyess AFB look great.

This year's "Big Country Airfest" and Silver B-1 Anniversary were a huge success! It truly took a team effort to plan and execute this series of first class events to make for a stellar four-day affair. And your success was appreciated by more people in more ways than you know.

By hosting 25-years of B-1 aviators, maintainers, supporters and corporate partners, we were able to teach our young Airmen how the B-1 got its start right here at Dyess and show our veterans, old friends and family how the B-1 is taking the fight to the enemy today...and well into the future. We were also privileged to have numerous distinguished visitors from across the Air Force, and they all said the base has never looked better or it's Airmen more professional. Our newly renovated linear airpark was a special topic among our Team Dyess veterans. You made them proud by keeping our Air Force's history alive and by more so doing the work yourself.

Your success in taking the lead in hosting this year's airshow showcased for the American taxpayers our nation's air warriors and the state-of-the-art equipment they use to defend our freedom. We also highlighted other dimensions of American aviation, old and very new, that make us the world's preeminent airfaring nation. We filled the skies with outstanding air acts, put on awesome ground attractions and highlighted ambassadors from all military branches. Mission accomplished! Our Team Dyess military and civilian volunteers did an amazing job planning, organizing and executing the entire event. I'm certain the 2011 Dyess Big Country Airfest at Abilene Regional Airport will be a brilliant success.

Remember, we wouldn't have been successful without the civilian support. Businesses and organizations contributed generously through sponsorship agreements, services and donations. The support and cooperation of the local city and county governments and agencies was also tremendous.

But in the end it came down to you and I could not be prouder.

ROBERT F. GASS, Colonel, USAF
Commander, 7th Bomb Wing