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Del City proclaims March as ‘552nd ACW Month’

  • Published
  • By Brandice J. O'Brien
  • Tinker Public Affairs
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  In just two weeks, the 552nd Air Control Wing will be honored with a month-long event. The City of Del City recently named March, "552nd Air Control Wing Month."

Del City officials presented Col. Thomas Engle, 552nd ACW vice commander, with the news and proclamation Feb. 2 at the Del City Chamber of Commerce Annual Awards Banquet and Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony held at the Del City Community Center. Other honors were also presented to the air control wing.

"We really appreciate the strong relationship between the 552nd ACW and Del City Chamber of Commerce," said Colonel Engle. "To me it's very important that our Airmen who are deploying frequently and rely on the local area for the support of their families while they're deployed have that great support. It's also great for our Airmen to see the local community supports their efforts."

Del City officials chose March as it marks the 35th anniversary of when the E-3 Sentry debuted at Tinker. The 552nd Air Control Wing Month proclamation was signed by Governor Mary Fallin on Jan. 19.

During the awards banquet Del City Mayor Brian Linley presented Colonel Engle with a key to the city, the Del City Chamber of Commerce Oklahoma Peacekeeper Award for "preserving worldwide peace," and announced Project AWACS, a monument to be constructed outside of Vance Gate, No. 40, recognizing the AWACS 35th anniversary. The monument is conceptualized and designed, but the chamber is still soliciting donations.

"These men and women put their lives on the line to protect our nation's freedom," said Mayor Linley. "It's just a small token of our appreciation -- the least we can do. A lot of these Airmen take off on deployments and they don't have families here and are single. We want to make sure when they come back from a deployment, they need to at least know they're coming back to an organization that cares and likewise, they're coming back to a community that cares."