VFW welcomes 820th Airmen home

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Jarrod Grammel
  • 23rd Wing Public Affairs
MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga --  Members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5978 and the 820th Base Defense Group held a welcome home event for Airmen who recently returned from a deployment.

During the welcome ceremony, Capt. Brandon McKinnon and Chief Master Sgt. Larry Miller were presented with Bronze Star medals for their actions downrange.

"They came home from deployments where they did amazing things, and we want to recognize them and let Airmen know what they did," said Tech. Sgt. Tasha McFarlande, 820th Combat Operations Squadron NCO in charge of commander's support staff. "It's good that they came out here because of what they stand for. This event gives them a chance to let Airmen know about the VFW and we can show them what we are all about.

"These events are a big morale booster for our Airmen," she added. "We see them off and give them a farewell, and now that they are home, we want to let them know that we are glad they are all back safely."

After an official ceremony, members of the 820th BDG and VFW Post 5978 ate lunch together and talked about their organizations.

"This is an opportunity for us to say 'job well done' to these returning Airmen and let them know about what we do at the post," said William Staples, VFW Post 5978 quartermaster. "Since they are coming home from a deployment we let them know that they can become a member of the VFW.

"I retired from the Air Force and I remember it was always nice to have people welcome you home," he added. "We hope we can conduct more of these welcome home events and support Moody and its Airmen."

The event also gave the 820th BDG a chance to reach out to the community and share a little bit about the special mission they do.

During the ceremony Col. Randall Richert, 820th Base Defense Group commander, presented the VFW Post 5978 with a plaque in appreciation on what the VFW does.

"The VFW supports us in a way that is very impressive," said Richert. "They have been in our shoes and have done these things, and now they are here to help us carry on."