LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. -- Members of Team Little Rock came together to honor the new Herk Nation Legacy Monument in Heritage Park at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, Aug. 16, 2024.
Along with the monument, the Herk Nation Legacy Award was established to recognize and honor past members of Herk Nation who have reached the highest levels of public service in either a uniformed or civilian capacity.
“It will be a daily reminder that we are standing on the shoulders of giants – those who came before us and paved the way for our success,” said Col. Denny Davies, 19th Airlift Wing commander. “Today, we have the distinct privilege of honoring one of our very own giants with the inaugural Herk Nation Legacy Award.”
Known to many as the 19th Chief of Staff of the Air Force – the highest leadership position in the Air Force – Retired Gen. Norton Schwartz was the first recipient of the Herk Nation Legacy Award was. Schwartz conducted his C-130 initial qualification training at Little Rock AFB in 1974-1975 and returned to the base for an additional assignment from 1977-1979 as a C-130E Hercules aircraft flight examiner with the 61st Tactical Airlift Squadron.
Maj. Gen. Charles Bolton, 18th Air Force commander, served as the keynote speaker for the ceremony.
“It’s an honor to be here today to commemorate the remarkable legacy of retired Gen. Norton Schwartz, the 19th Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force,” Bolton said. “General Schwartz may be soft-spoken, but is a deadly leader and aviator, just like every variant of the C-130. His 39 years of service exemplified precision, professionalism and sustained lethality that the four – sometimes now six – ‘fans of freedom’ deliver every time.”
Schwartz honored his time at Little Rock AFB during his remarks to members of Herk Nation.
“What a privilege it is to have a place among you, a base and community that propelled me along the long and meaningful arc of my life,” Schwartz said. “To qualify, to re-qualify, to upgrade, to instruct, to evaluate and to emulate many here in the Herk Family who are far more worthy than me.”
Both the monument and the Herk Nation Legacy Award will serve as enduring symbols of not only Gen. Schwartz’s profound impact on the Little Rock AFB community and the entire Air Force, but will also be constant reminders of the achievements and impact made by future recipients of this award.
“It will be a way to honor the legacy and impact Little Rock AFB has upon the world,” said Daniel Gray, Little Rock AFB Community Council president. “I want to thank each and every one of you for being here to today to help commemorate this monument and honor our amazing first recipient.”