Stephen was one of five Heroes of the Air Force and was recently honored at the AETC symposium in San Antonio. We were really pretty clueless with what the symposium would hold until we showed up in San Antonio. Talk about VIP treatment! It was amazing. The symposium was about 4000 of the Air Force finest including many generals, including four star generals. We are talking big wigs here people. Which is all fine and good except I am about the most clueless Air Force wife there is and certainly did not know all the rules. I didn't know if I was supposed to salute, bow, curtsy, say yes sir or just drop and do push ups. The symposium included many demonstrations of the newest military training methods, discussions and lunches. We found out just how VIP Stephen was as soon as we arrived because they immediately gave him his hero medal which he was supposed to wear at all times. That was pretty much torture for Stephen who doesn't even like to be in his uniform. It was tough walking back and forth from the event to the hotel because every 2 feet someone would stop and salute to Stephen, it would take us 25 minutes to walk across the street. It was all pretty funny to me.
The first morning at the welcome speeches, we walk into the biggest banquet hall I have ever seen, it held over 4000 people and who's chairs are in the very front row, that' right ours! I have never felt so important in my life even if I was just riding the coattails of my husband.
We did have some fun free time to and we took advantage of it by exploring San Antonio. Here we are in front of the Alamo. It was really interesting touring the inside of the Alamo, which means I definitely have gotten older because I enjoyed reading all of the information on this historic site.
We also got to walk around, shop and eat at the River Walk. We had two Air Force luncheons that we attended where Stephen was again a guest of honor. We sat at Table 2 the first day and Table 1 the other day, out of 400 tables! I know I am gushing but it was really cool. Of course I just talked about the kids and the Packers to all the generals, I thought it was a pretty safe topic. I doubt they wanted to hear my take on the war and national safety. Which by the way, security forces were everywhere, including bomb sniffing dogs and secret service. It made me nervous and feel safe at the same time.
The big event! It was time for The Ball and wow, didn't my hubby look handsome!
All dressed up for the ball. Okay, I took very few pictures because it was very high security and Stephen was being ushered everywhere by guys with little walkie talkies on their shoulder. "Major Boskovich is heading to the Executive reception" "General Rice is on the move" etc. I thought maybe I would get in trouble if I tried to record people on my Iphone. The whole event was recorded and I believe we are getting a copy. There was also professional photographers taking lots of pictures of us, the heroes and all the heroes with General Rice and the Secretary of the Air Force, Mike Donnelly! We were told we will get copies of everything. The Ball was exquisite and we were excited to be part of it. After all the guests were seated we had to process in, General Rice and his wife and then Stephen and I, followed by the other heroes. I thought I was going to have a heart attack walking in front of all those people but Stephen kept me upright and we made it to our table full of big wigs. As we processed in we walked under a saber salute which was really neat.
There was great entertainment including a Precision team, Color Guard and the Singing Sergeants who are a musical group that has been performing for every President of the United States since Eisenhower. They are fabulous, it was so fun. They sang many emotional songs about freedom,etc. but they also rocked it out with "We are the Champions." It was really fun and they got everyone on their feet for the Air Force fight song. The heroes were each recognized in a booklet at the tables and also from an interview on video for each hero shown on giant screens. The videos were really well done and we had many a person coming up to us at the end telling us we made them cry, General Hopper even told the whole crowd that he couldn't even hold back his tears after Jenni Boskovich had a tear coming down her cheek (during the interviews). It was pretty moving and all of the heroes got a standing ovation. We were really lucky to be able to experience this other side of the Air Force in such special event. We have all been so proud of Stephen for the great work he does and it was so heart warming to see him getting honored. Also, a really big extra thank you to Grandma Joan for being our hero and staying with our kids while we were gone. The kids had so much fun and we are so appreciative, thank you Grandma Joan!
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