Message For Military Eyes In The Sky

Harvest is almost over, but something important is being planted in a Bellevue field. Military personnel flying into Offutt Air Force Base can look down on final approach and see how much they are appreciated.

Volunteers are staking out this year’s message along Highway 370 and 25th Street, which will say "thank you for freedom." Among those helping are several off-duty Air Force personnel who will themselves be flying over.

I used to live just outside Offutt AFB, near 42nd Ave & Hwy 370. Was so close to the base that when the annual airshow was on the Blue Angels or Thunderbirds would fly over my house.
The base has always been supported by the community. For those that don’t know, this was the Strategic Air Command of old, now Stratcom. The Looking Glass planes are based there and flew continuous missions during the cold war. In WWII it was the Martin Bomber Plant. The Enola Gay rolled off the assembly line there. I’ve had the priviledge as just a civilian to tour the underground communications center, that was Target #1 and Ground Zero for any Soviet attack. It looks just like what you see in the movies on tv.
I also got to see one of the Space Shuttles there when it was being transported back from Edwards AFB in CA to Florida, and stopped for refueling. They opened up the base to the public that day. And finally, on 9/11 when all air traffic was grounded, and there might have been a threat against Air Force One, GWB went to Offutt to be in a secure location.
Lots of good memories about that base. I am glad you posted this.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.