Freedom Fest 2008 - Be Here! Published July 11, 2008 By Brig. Gen. Richard Devereaux 82nd Training Wing commander SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Next week is going to be a big, patriotic week for Sheppard, and I wanted to take the time to highlight a couple of key events. First, Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, one of our two U. S. Senators from Texas will be visiting the base on Thursday. Col Dave Petersen and I will be showing off part of our base including our new F-22 Maintenance Training Center. Senator Hutchison was instrumental in ensuring this 5th generation training facility was established here and helped get us the funding for the facility and its multimillion dollar training aids. It'll be a great opportunity for us to thank her and her staff and highlight our base. Please do you part to help Sheppard look good for her visit. Following her visit on Thursday, we'll be welcoming thousands to Sheppard on Friday, the 4th of July, for Freedom Fest 2008. What a great event we have planned this year! Maj Henry Myers, 372 TRS/CC, has led a team from Services, and across the base, to organize an afternoon of fun for all of you, your families, and our local community. It all starts at 1500 Friday afternoon on the hill near the Clinic with games, music, and activities for kids and families. Three popular regional bands will be playing from 1530-1900. At around 1930, our Airmen in training will provide a demonstration followed by a T-38 fly-by. Then at 2000 we will be treated to one of the first 2008 Tops in Blue shows in our Air Force. We are so fortunate to be THE Air Force base selected for the Tops in Blue show on the 4th of July. Of course, the evening will be topped off by a huge fireworks display, the only one in the local area this year! You don't have to worry about getting hungry or thirsty either since there will be dozens of food vendors and private organizations selling food and drink. All this means that Sheppard will be "4th of July Central" for North Texas this year. I'd encourage every single one of you to come out with your families and enjoy the show. While you're here, please help us chaperone the thousands of guests from the community who will be joining us. It'll require all of us to help guide and direct the members of the public. Also, it'll take all of us to be "sensors" to detect any suspicious activities that need to be reported to our local security forces. I can't overstress the need for your vigilance during Freedom Fest. Please help us ensure this year's Freedom Fest will be the most enjoyable and secure event we've had! Of course, I wouldn't expect anything less from Team Sheppard.