HICKAM AIR FORCE BASE, Hawaii -- While Air Force Week Honolulu is an opportunity to celebrate the Air Force's 60th Anniversary, it is also an opportunity for Hawaii's Airmen to focus on the community during the event. One such opportunity will take place Sept. 10, when everyone is encouraged to participate in Airmen in Education Day.
Airmen in Education Day will give Hickam's Airmen the chance to get out from behind their desks and spend the day volunteering throughout Oahu's elementary schools.
"This is a great opportunity for our Airmen to get involved. We are in the process of contacting more than 120 area schools, and we are hoping to get our volunteers into as many schools as possible on that day," said 2nd Lt. Jonathan Ketchum, project officer.
Lieutenant Ketchum and members of Hickam's Company Grade Officers Council are overseeing Airmen in Education Day. "Airmen in Education Day will give us a unique opportunity to interact with the local community. Airmen will work with the students during a variety of activities including flag raising ceremonies, read aloud programs, physical fitness, campus beautification, career talks and teacher assistance," he said. "Everyone is invited to participate -- active-duty, guard and reserve members -- they just need to sign up to participate."
Although the event is more than a month away, volunteers are needed now to begin working the detailed planning with each participating school. "Each school will be assigned between eight and 15 Airmen provided by the Wing and tenant units. Dependents are also welcome to volunteer,"
Lieutenant Ketchum said. "Our goals are to have a positive impact in the lives of all the children that day and to show the community that education and our nation's youth are important to all of us."
Those interested in participating with Airmen in Education Day can sign up on the CGOC's Intranet site. Individuals can also call Lieutenant Ketchum at 449-4371 or 1st Lieutenants Michael Harvey, 449-0331, or Kyle Slick, 449-3124.
Air Force Week Honolulu begins Sept. 7 with a proclamation from Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann. The first-ever island-wide celebration continues through Sept. 15. Events will include performances by the Air Force's premier entertainment showcase, Tops in Blue, Sept. 12 and the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, Sept. 15, which will headline the week of entertainment and airpower events scheduled to take place around the island.
Many of the events are free and open to the public. For more information and the updated schedule of events go to: http://www.pacaf.af.mil/library/airforceweekhonolulu/index.asp