Ninth Air Force Memorial Planned

The leadership of 9th Air Force and Air Forces Central ceremonially broke ground May 30 at Shaw AFB, S.C., for a planned fallen airman’s memorial. It is meant to honor 9th AF members who have served and sacrificed since inception of the numbered air force in June 1942. “Today we break ground of this tribute to our airmen who have given all in the line of duty and served in and throughout the reaches of service,” Lt. Gen. Gary North, 9th AF and AFCENT commander, said during the ceremony, which took place on the parade grounds of 9th AF headquarters. North made the symbolic first dig together with CMSgt. Scott Dearduff, 9th AF and AFCENT command chief. “Now comes the hard part,” Dearduff said. “We have to build it [and] raise the money through private funds to meet our goal of dedicating the memorial one year from today.” At the ceremony, an honor guard laid the first ceremonial bricks that will form the memorial’s foundation. (Shaw report by MSgt. Theresa Shannon)