445th AW annual awards banquet to be held in March

  • Published
  • By 445th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
The 445th Airlift Wing annual awards banquet will be March 3 at the National Museum of the United States Air Force. The reception is slated to begin at 6 p.m. and the program at 7 p.m.

The wing is honored to have as its guest speaker for this year's event Maj. Gen. (ret.) Joseph A. McNeil, former mobilization assistant to the commander, Headquarters Air Force Reserve Command, Robins Air Force Base, Ga.

In addition to his 39 years of military service and his civil service career with the Federal Aviation Administration, the general is known for protecting the rights of American citizens, which began long before he joined the military.

In 1960 McNeil and three other African-American friends insisted on being served at an F.W. Woolworth whites-only lunch counter in Greensboro, N.C. The protest sparked sit-ins all over the segregated South and is considered a major event in the nation's civil rights movement.

The Maj. Gen. Joseph A. McNeil Award for Human Resources Development Council Leadership Excellence is named after McNeil and is awarded bi-annually to a large and small AFRC wing. McNeil's life example of citizenship and service to others is part of the criteria selection the award is based on. The 445th AW received the award in 2010.

The awards banquet recognizes those selected by their unit for Airman, NCO, senior NCO, company grade officer, chief, spouse and youth of the year. The winner of each category will be announced during the banquet.

The cost of the event is $25 for E-7 and above; $20 for E-6 and below; $10 for children 6-12; and children 5 and under are free.

All reservations must be received by Feb. 24.

The required uniform for the evening is semi-formal or mess dress for enlisted and mess dress for officers. Civilians may wear formal evening attire.

For more information, contact the public affairs office at 257-5784.