Airman dedicates nearly 60 years to AF

SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- Elmer Bryans receives a certificate of appreciation from Col. Patrick Doherty May 27, 2010. Mr. Bryans, a retired senior master sergeant, has been volunteering at the Retirees Activities Office since 2004. Mr. Bryans is officially retiring after nearly 60 years of dedicated service to the Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Gino Reyes)

Airman dedicates nearly 60 years to AF

Published June 3, 2010
By Tech. Sgt. Tammie Moore
4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- In the military people constantly come and go, few faces at a base remain the same as the years pass.

Elmer Bryans is an exception to this norm; he spent nearly 60 years serving the Air Force community. While on active duty he served as a communications operations superintendent.

In 2004 he started up the Seymour Johnson Retiree Activities Office volunteer program. Today there are more than 100 retirees who volunteer across the base, providing a critical, supplemental manpower force in areas facing high deployment operations tempos such as the 4th Medical Group. As the RAO director, Mr. Bryans also assists with disseminating information to the Seymour Johnson retiree community.

"Words are not enough to thank Elmer for what he has provided the base," said Col. Patrick Doherty, 4th Fighter Wing commander. "You will always be a close friend of the 4th Fighter Wing and you will always be welcome here."

After receiving personal, heart-felt thanks along with tokens of appreciation from Colonel Doherty and group commanders during a wing stand-up meeting, Mr. Bryans addressed the group with tears in his eyes.

"It has been a great experience, when you come back and people are so nice to you," Mr. Bryans said. "Retirees want to give their time (back) to help the military (communi