Izmir celebrates 65th Air Force Birthday
By Tanju Varlikli, 425th Air Base Squadron Host Nation Advisor
/ Published October 03, 2012
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Lt. Gen. Ralph Jodice II (left), NATO Headquarters Allied Air Command Izmir commander, and Senior Airman Anjioulet Petsalis (right), 425th Air Base Squadron Security Forces flight, cut a cake during the Air Force Ball Sept. 21, 2012. It is tradition that the highest and the lowest ranking members on base cut the cake during Air Force birthday celebrations. (Photo by Tanju Varlikli)
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Staff Sgt. Tanner Ray (left) and Senior Airman Anjioulet Petsalis, 425th Air Base Squadron Security Forces Flight, display a single red rose during the Prisoner-of-War/ Missing-in-Action ceremony at the Izmir Air Force Ball Sept. 21, 2012, at Izmir Air Station, Turkey. (Photo by Tanju Varlikli)
IZMIR AIR STATION, Turkey --
Men and women of the 425th Air Base Squadron and NATO celebrated 65 years of United States air power with an Air Force Ball at the Izmir Hilton Hotel Sept. 21.
Approximately 100 people from the Izmir community with representatives of from five NATO nations gathered to make the Air Force's birthday a time to remember.
The theme, "Superiority through Diversity" was reflected through a video by 1st Lt. Jeremy Blaney, the committee chairman for the event.
"This year's theme, "Superiority through Diversity,' is very relevant considering what we do in Izmir," Blaney said. "The team relies on a few experts from many different AFSCs to get the job done. On the NATO side, U.S. personnel work with foreign partners on a daily basis. Diversity is something we embrace every day. "It is through diversity that we are able to achieve that which we are charged to do - fly, fight, and win."
The events included posting of the colors, a Prisoner-of-War/Missing-in-Action presentation, a traditional cake cutting and a speech about diversity and the importance of air power by keynote speaker Col. Travis Willis, NATO tactical evaluation division head.
The night concluded with the singing of the Air Force Song.