By Brig. Gen. Rowayne A. Schatz, Jr.
19th Airlift Wing commander
Today Team Little Rock offers a warm Combat Airlift welcome to Gen. Arthur Lichte, Commander of Air Mobility Command, and Chief Master Sgt. Joseph Barron, the Command Chief Master Sergeant of Air Mobility Command, for an official base visit.
This is General Lichte’s and Chief Barron’s first visit to Little Rock AFB since the 19th Airlift Wing took over host wing responsibilities under Air Mobility Command on Oct. 1. We’re looking forward to showing off our outstanding Airmen and our
Combat Airlift spirit to our distinguished visitors!
Nearly 145 years ago, President Abraham Lincoln delivered one of the most famous speeches in history – the Gettysburg Address. His speech was concise…less than 300 words…direct, and very clear. Most of us only know the first sentence of this great address, which came in the wake of the bloodiest battle of a great civil war – a civil war that cost America more lives than any other war in our history.
“Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.” These words are forever etched in history, but the impact of this opening sentence was small in comparison to the magnitude of the words that followed. As service members, we should pay special attention to the remainder of the Gettysburg Address. During this time when our country was relatively young, President Lincoln both recognized the cost of constructing a government by the people and for the people while simultaneously laying the framework for what our government would become. However, at heart, the Gettysburg Address is not truly about government. It is a thank you letter written from a grateful man to current and future generations of military members. It is a thank you letter to you and me.
The brave Soldiers and Sailors who died in the Civil War, and every generation of military person who has given their last full measure of devotion did so to keep our government alive. You and I are part of this legacy. It is because of this heritage that we now prepare to elect a new commander-in-chief, that we remember this fact. We, and those who have served before us, have earned the right to choose our president and those who represent us. Without our sacrifices, there would be no right to vote, and with no right to vote, there would be no democracy.
Vote because you care about your community. Vote because you believe in a free country where you elect your leaders. Most of all, vote because you have earned the right to.
Thank you for your service.
Combat Airlift!
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