Team Seymour helps dreams come true

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Marissa Tucker
  • 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs office
SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. --  As part of a the Wings Over Wayne Air Show and Open House, more than 50 children and family members received the royal treatment when the 4th Fighter Wing hosted the Make-A-Wish Foundation here April 15.

Several members of the 4th FW participated in the day-long event to ensure the children and families received a special day. The foundation is a non-profit organization that grants wishes to children with life-threatening illnesses.

One volunteer said the opportunity gave her a new outlook on her life and career.

"Volunteering made me realize that everyone is not as fortunate as we are in the military," said Airman 1st Class Phylicia Portlow, knowledge operations manager for the 4th Maintenance Group. "I am definitely going to get more involved with the Make-A-Wish Foundation. It touched my heart and gave me a sense of pride that these children want to be like us."

The day began with a tour of a fighter squadron, where the group received a mission brief and then tried on the gear pilots and weapons system officers wear on a daily basis. For many of the children, this was the most enjoyable part of the day.

"My son was mesmerized by everything," said Christie Griffith, who became involved with the organization after her daughter received treatment for a condition at Duke Medical Center in Durham. "His ideas of Soldiers were the soldiers in Toy Story."

The group was also given a tour of the base fire station, watched a military working dog demonstration and enjoyed prime seating for the Thunderbirds practice performance.

The preparation for the event began earlier in the month when several 4th FW Airmen participated in a car wash to raise money for the foundation. All the proceeds will go toward granting more children's wishes in the future.

This was not the foundation's first time on Seymour Johnson AFB. In 2009, Make-A-Wish children used the flight simulators and watched F-15E Strike Eagles take off from the flightline.

The base visit for the air show sparked a possible career aspiration for one Make-A-Wish family member.

When asked if she wanted to be in the Air Force after viewing the Thunderbirds practice performance, a girl who was on the tour with her family gave a simple, enthusiastic, "Yes!"