COMMANDER’S CORNER: RED OR YELLOW? - PAGE 2 Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado
Thursday, August 31, 2017
Vol. 61 No. 35
HELPING SURVIVOR FAMILIES:
Local chapter hosts first Snowflake event By Dave Smith 21st Space Wing Public Affairs staff writer
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — To support the families of fallen military members, the local chapter of the Non Commissioned Officers Association held a Snowflake Event Aug. 21, 2017 at Security Services Field, Colorado Springs, Colorado. “Snowflake events are designed to be a day of fun for children of fallen military heroes, providing an opportunity to get out with other survivor families,” according to official NCOA guidelines. “Events are held at various locations around the nation so families can enjoy them without extensive travel. “For us it was important to show the families they were not forgotten,” said Master Sgt. Gerald Morey, 21st Comptroller Squadron/Wing Staff Agency first sergeant and member of the NCOA Air Academy chapter. “This was the first time our chapter held a Snowflake event.” The events are smaller, localized versions of the four-day Snowball Express event held each year in December for families of fallen military members. Attendees are treated to special activities and receive gifts to help them connect with others who are facing similar circumstances. Several families from multiple services participated in the event, with one family travelling from Denver to take part, Morey said. They all received free admission to the Sky Sox game at See Families page 4
(U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Dennis Hoffman)
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — A boy attending a Snowflake Event at Security Service Field watches a Sky Sox baseball game while eating ice cream in Colorado Springs, Colo., Aug. 21, 2017. A Snowflake event is a regional occurrence hosted for Snowball Express families. Since 2006, Snowball Express has provided hope and happy memories to the children of military fallen heroes who have died while on active duty since 9/11.
Aiming to keep aircraft and wildlife from hazardous encounters By Dave Smith 21st Space Wing Public Affairs staff writer
(Courtesy photo)
THULE AIR BASE, Greenland — A group of Arctic Hares congregate near the runway at Thule Air Base, Greenland, Aug. 15, 2017. Wildlife can be a recipe for disaster when it and aircraft share the same space. The 21st Space Wing Bird/Wildlife Airstrike Hazard team from Peterson Air Force Base visited Thule AB to assess mitigation needs.
INSIDE News Briefs Crossword Classifieds
1-11 12 19 18
In honor of Women’s Equality Day Page 3
PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. — Descending above the runway and coming into the wind, the wings are aligned. It’s a beautiful day for a flight and vision is clear for hundreds of miles. In the midst of this peaceful scene a shadow suddenly darkens the daylight; a loud, high-pitched screech encompasses the senses. Finally a thud and breaking glass mark a collision between bird and a jet airplane. During 2016, the Air Force Safety Center reported about 4,000 such incidents, some resulting in human injury, at a cost of roughly $21 million. These violent encounters between wildlife and aircraft are a serious issue around airports. The Bird/Wildlife Aircraft Strike Hazard team exists to address the issue and take necessary measures to prevent them from occurring. “The program, in a nutshell, is the mitigation of wildlife hazards on, and around airports to reduce the risk of wildlife strikes,” said Darron Haughn, 21st Space Wing aviation safety manager. Mitigation involves consideration of various factors.
Partnership enables annual Thule resupply Page 6
See Encounters page 11
SPECIAL SECTION
Recreation and Lesure Events Page 1B