33rd LRAFB Military Retiree Appreciation Day to feature more than 80 vendors and C-130 static visit

  • Published
  • By Capt. Joe Knable
  • 19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. --  Team Little Rock is comprised of approximately 49,000 Airmen, government civilians, family members and retirees. More than half of those who make up that team are the nearly 34,000 local military retirees the base proudly services.

The base will take the opportunity to say, "thank you for making a difference," Nov. 6 at the 33rd Military Retiree Appreciation Day, according to the base Retiree Activities Office.

The event will be held from 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. at the Thomas Community Activities Center, Bldg. 868 on Arnold Drive, which is across from the old Base Exchange. Admission and all of the information is free. No reservations are required; interested retirees need only show up and enjoy.

"It's a day set aside to bring the retirees together and visit the vendors available at the time," said retired Army Chief Warrant Officer John Heffernan, the Retiree Activities Office director. "The purpose of this whole thing is to see what resources we have ... This is a good time to come renew old friendships."

The more than 80 vendors expected this year include the agencies from the Department of Veterans Affairs, I.D. cards section, Tricare dental and health, funeral homes, vendors selling various goods, AAFES, the commissary, and free bus rides out to a C-130 static display especially for the retirees.

There will be discounts to the base bowling center and golf course available, and Mr. Heffernan also hopes to have prostate care experts at this year's event. The dining facility is open to retirees and their family members that day from 6:30 a.m. - 7 p.m. as well, Chief Master Sgt. Jimmy Daniels, 19th Force Support Squadron superintendent. Retirees, families and civilians are welcome to eat at the dining facility for all meals every day starting Dec. 1.

The Military Retiree Appreciation Day features so many vendors because, "Our people don't like briefings," said Mr. Heffernan, "They like hands-on exhibits."

"It's a day to bring the retirees, annuitants and gray-area retirees to Little Rock Air Force Base and show them a good time," he explained.

Retired Lt. Col. Al Hamman, who served in WWII, Korea and Vietnam and flew C-130 Cs, Ds, Es and Fs, was here for the first Military Retiree Appreciation Day in 1977, the same year he retired from the Air Force after 35 years of service, said Colonel Hamman. "I got drafted to help finish up the second one," in 1978, he said.

The first five years of Colonel Hamman's service were in the Army Air Corps. The Air Force became a separate service in 1947. Colonel Hamman spent seven of his 35 in service years at the base, five of which he lived on base. He moved into a house he built in May 1977, the house he still lives in today.

He also has a rich heritage with the 314th Airlift Wing. He served with the wing's 37th Airlift Squadron at Langley Air Force Base, Va., when he returned from Vietnam in 1968, he said.

The colonel has seen a decline in retiree participation over the years. "Before, we had an abundance of volunteers, but now, because of old age and deaths, and because when younger troops (these days) retire, they go to work," he said. In the past, he explained, retirees were more likely to find a place to volunteer instead.

There are currently 67 volunteers in the Retiree Activities Office, ten of which are widows of deceased veterans.

Mr. Heffernan has been working with the Military Retiree Appreciation Day for 12 years, since he started serving with the Retiree Activities Office.

There were approximately 950 retirees who took part in last year's event, said Mr. Heffernan. As far as a prediction for this year, "I hope for more but you never can tell," he said.

"If a vendor takes part in the day, it's a day to sell their program," said Mr. Heffernan. "We have had (more than) 100 vendors in the past." Mr. Heffernan sent out more than 150 invitations to vendors. If a vendor is interested in participating, they should call the Retiree Activities Office at (501) 987-6095 or e-mail john.heffernan@us.af.mil.