Upholding the Legacy, Pioneering the Future
I am both honored and humbled to address you as the President of Airmen Heritage Foundation at this pivotal juncture. Our gathering today transcends a mere meeting; it is a testament to our unwavering commitment to preserving and celebrating the illustrious history of our valiant enlisted Airmen and Guardians. Our mission is not just about honoring the past, but about cementing a legacy that propels us into a future where the indomitable spirit of our enlisted Airmen and Guardians continues to be a beacon of inspiration for generations to come.
I want to acknowledge the leadership provided by our past president Timmothy Dickens. The present success of the Airman Heritage Foundation would not have been possible without his leadership, contributions, and hard work as president these past few years. I look forward to building on the solid foundation Timmothy has established with our mission partners, as well as past and current board members.
It has been a fast eight months since I’ve been in the seat as your president. As we move to conclude 2023, it is a very exciting time to be in a leadership role with the Airman Heritage Foundation. Ideas imagined years ago have gained momentum, and there has been growth with our partnership with the Heritage and Learning Center Foundation and with the museum staff. There are some areas where we have lost some footing, but it is a great time to pivot in those areas and come out better on the other side.
The journey of Airmen Heritage Foundation has always been mirrored in the ethos of service before self. Each endeavor we undertake, each story we preserve, and each life we touch, reflects the profound respect and gratitude we harbor for the men and women who have devoted themselves to a cause greater than self. We have come out of COVID and began our Outreach initiatives again and this year alone we participated in the Oshkosh Air Show, continued our long and tenured partnership with the Air Force Sergeants Association and just recently our Director of Outreach Programs Dave Shultz supported an enlisted event at Shaw Air Force Base. We will join in celebrating the Women in the Air Force 75th Anniversary in a few days. We continue to seek out those opportunities where the cause is always greater than self and the stories preserve lasting legacies that future generations can stand on the shoulders of past heroes and carve out their own legacy.
Our collaborative efforts have borne fruit, enabling us to establish a robust foundation for an enduring legacy. The programs and initiatives we have launched are not just preserving history, but are actively engaging with our community, fostering an environment of education, respect, and admiration for the sacrifices and triumphs of our enlisted personnel. This year I had the privilege to join our vice president, Danny Sanchez, as we attended the San Antonio Masters Leadership Program speed-dating event. We have yet to see a return on that investment but as my grandfather use to tell me, sometimes you plant the trees for the shade you will never stand under and enjoy. So we planted a seed about this outstanding foundation and the work we wish to accomplish in hopes that soon a graduate of that program will see the opportunities that abound with us. To that end, we continue to grow our brand with the city; this year we plan to play a small part in San Antonio Celebrate America’s Military events with an eye to the future to grow our footprint where it matters most, giving thanks to those who served and continue to serve our great nation. Last the partnership we have forged with the Heritage and Learning Center Foundation has placed us in rooms and around like-minded people that honestly without the vision of Jack Hedbon and Doug King, I don’t know if we could have got there from here. Case in point, the icebreaker at The Argyle certainly placed us dead center with the some of the movers and shakers in San Antonio and I can’t thank these visionaries enough for their encouragement and at many times pulling us along this path.
I invite each one of you to become torchbearers of this noble cause. Together, let us delve deeper into the annals of history, unearth untold stories, and inspire a new era of Airmen and Guardians who are as grounded in tradition as they are in forward-thinking.
Our agenda is steeped in the spirit of innovation, collaboration, and honoring the legacy that has been bequeathed to us. I look forward to the enriching discussions, insightful deliberations, and the shared vision that will guide us as we soar to new heights.
Thank you for your continued support, dedication, and the boundless enthusiasm that you bring to the Airmen Heritage Foundation. The sky is not the limit; that is just the place our Air Force Airmen pass the torch to our Space Force Guardians…it’s just the beginning.
Yours sincerely,
Alfred A. Herring
President, Airman Heritage Foundation
