Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - June 9, 2004
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Gov. Gary Locke Salutes 92nd and 141st Air Force Refueling Wings at Fairchild AFB

Gov. Gary Locke today met with personnel from the 92nd and 141st Air Force Refueling Wings at Fairchild Air Force Base in Spokane to thank them for their service to the state and the nation.

“On behalf of the people of Washington, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for defending our security, our freedoms and our way of life,” Locke said. “We salute your strength of character and dedication to duty. We owe you a debt of gratitude we can never repay.”

Locke met with approximately 30 Air Guard members of various units within the wing. They represented members who have returned from overseas missions supporting Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.

The 141st Air Refueling Wing is a Washington Air National Guard Unit located at Fairchild Air Force Base. The 141st has been activated for World War II, the Korean War, Desert Storm, Operation Noble Eagle, Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. In addition, personnel from the 141st have assisted in state operations during state emergencies such as the eruption of Mount St. Helens in 1980, as well as firestorms, floods, ice storms and civil disturbances.

The 92nd Air Refueling Wing is the regular Air Force wing located at Fairchild Air Force Base.

“I am honored to visit Fairchild Air Force Base and meet some of the dedicated men and women stationed here,” Locke said. “Fairchild is a critical component of our state and nation’s security.

“Our military installations are also extremely important to our state’s communities and our economy. There are more than 90,000 uniformed and civilian personnel on our bases. We value the diversity that these people and their families bring to our state, and the contributions they make to our communities.”

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