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Team Seymour celebrates AF’s 69th birthday

By Airman Shawna L. Keyes, 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs / Published September 22, 2016

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SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. --

Members of Team Seymour held a ball for the Air Force’s 69th birthday, Sept. 17, at Heritage Hall.

The event featured live music, a disc jockey, and two ticket options for either a sit-down meal or a cocktail hour with hors d’oeuvres.

More than 400 members of Team Seymour attended the event, which included a speech from retired Tech. Sgt. C. Matthew Slaydon, a former explosive ordnance disposal technician and wounded warrior.

“Tonight’s theme is ‘Go Fourth and Conquer’ and I really like that, it’s what we do,” said Slaydon. “I see the future of the Air Force sitting in this room. I’ve met all these young Airmen and you’re the guys, you’re going to be our chiefs, and I’m enthused. I think our [Airmen] are amazing, they blow me away. We are the Air Force; the Airmen are the Air Force, we make it happen.”     

The event also highlighted the 60th anniversary of the reactivation of Seymour Johnson Air Force Base. Back in 1954, two veterans, Scott B. Berkeley, a World War I pilot, and John Lewis, a World War II pilot, wanted to see the Air Force return to Goldsboro. On April 1, 1956, their campaign succeeded as Seymour Johnson AFB was re-opened as part of the Tactical Air Command.

The announcement was also made that a time capsule would be opened in September 2017 for the 75th anniversary of the 4th Fighter Wing, which was buried on the 25th anniversary of the 4th FW by Col. Paul Watson, the commander of the base in 1967. 

Col. Christopher Sage, 4th FW commander, gave closing remarks and cut the cake with the youngest Airman on base, Airman 1st Class Asher Sylvia, 4th Component Maintenance Squadron aircrew egress systems apprentice.

“On the 69th birthday of the United States Air Force I salute each of you,” said Sage. “I salute the dedicated Airmen and families of Team Seymour. Tonight we remember our proud heritage. It was 60 years ago this year, in 1956, that this base was re-activated. This base, Team Seymour, the total force of active duty and reserves, delivers global reach and global power with unmatched precision. Tonight we remember our more than 500 Airmen from this base that are currently deployed. Thank you for answering the call and thank you to the family members of those that are deployed.”
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