Team Malmstrom honors service retirees

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Katrina Heikkinen
  • 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  Rainy conditions didn't stop more than 200 military retirees from coming to Malmstrom Air Force Base for the annual Retiree Appreciation Weekend, April 27-29.

The weekend kicked off with a formal retreat ceremony at the base auditorium. Col. H.B. Brual, 341st Missile Wing commander, welcomed the guests of honor and provided opening remarks.

"This weekend we pay tribute to their [retirees] courage, sacrifice and service to this nation," Brual said. "As active-duty members, we stand on the shoulders of great men and women who built this nation into the military we serve today."

Malmstrom's Honor Guard folded the flag as retired U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Ron Sperandeo dressed in period uniform and played taps on his bugle for the special event. An array of colors and generations filled the stage as active-duty and service retirees saluted the flag.

"Retired Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coastguardsmen have modeled great leadership . . . have crafted the leaders today so that we may advance the military and protect our nation as they once did," Brual said.

Following the retreat ceremony, retirees gathered at the Grizzly Bend for a no-host social. For those traveling from afar or from out-of-state, this was a chance to get reacquainted with friends from last year's event.

Saturday started early with the clinic opening at 7 a.m. Retirees were greeted by numerous booths at the front entrance. Airmen mingled with retirees while performing blood pressure and body mass index examinations. The Health and Wellness Center discussed healthy eating options and provided smoothies. Fresh fruit, cookies, coffee and other goodies were available as retirees leisurely walked down the halls of the clinic to receive their health screenings. The Orthopedic Center of Montana of Benefis Healthcare Systems returned to perform heel scans to measure bone density. Sletten Cancer Institute provided informational brochures as well as preventative measures for the retirees.

Following a morning of free medical procedures, including lab work, and dental and eye examinations, the Elkhorn Dining Facility served a brunch for the retirees. Members of the Retiree's Council also greeted visitors to the Commissary and Base Exchange.

The chapel provided a fact-finding event at 1 p.m. Col. Robert Stanley, 341st MW vice commander, briefed on the base infrastructure while Capt. Kevin Cayton, 341st MW chief of legal assistance, discussed wills, trusts and powers of attorney. Other briefings included casualty affairs, Veterans Affairs and the Social Security office.

Most retirees gathered at the Grizzly Bend for a formal appreciation dinner to conclude the weekend April 28. Col. Mark Zimmerhanzel, 819th RED HORSE Squadron commander, was the guest speaker for the dinner that concluded the special weekend.

"I get a great feeling of being able to do something to help the retirees and bring them together to show them our active-duty counterparts still care and remember us," said Denis Miller, director of the Retiree Activities Office.