Over the last two years, the 62nd and 446th Airlift Wings at McChord Field have flown many missions providing humanitarian aid to countries all over the world.
From medical evacuations to Haiti and Antarctica to delivering relief supplies to Pakistan, Japan and Chile, the wings' impact has touched many lives.
Air Force Ball organizers will pay tribute to that fact during this year's event. "Global Aid Through Global Reach: 64 years of Delivering Hope" is the theme for this year's ball, which kicks off at 5 p.m. Sept. 17 in Hangars 3 and 4.
"Humanitarian relief is a big part of our mission but doesn't get that much coverage," said Capt. Dan Morgan, chairman of the Air Force Ball committee.
The theme will be prevalently displayed throughout Hangar 4 as part of the event. Airmen from the 22nd Special Tactics Squadron will host a display showing off all the equipment they used in Haiti to set up a portable air traffic control center after the airport was ravaged by an earthquake.
There will also be a C-17 Globemaster III static display where Reservists from the 446th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron will be on hand to show off the aircraft configured with medical staging equipment. Aerial port Airmen will have a display as well explaining their role in facilitating the movement of cargo for humanitarian missions.
"Everyone plays their role in the mission, but not everyone sees the big picture," Morgan said. "This way, people can see the chain from A to Z and the impact each section has."
The keynote speaker for the event is Maj. Gen. Darren McDew, the commander of Air Force District of Washington at Andrews Air Force Base, Md. McDew, who served as 62nd Operations Group commander at McChord from 2000 to 2002, provides the single Air Force voice and component to the Joint Forces Headquarters-National Capital Region, as well as organizes, trains and equips combat forces for the aerospace expeditionary forces, homeland operations, civil support, national special security events and ceremonial events.
"I've heard he is a great speaker," Morgan said.
In addition to all the displays, for the first time ever the committee invited the Air Force Academy's Sabre Drill Team. The team travels the country performing precision sabre displays. The 56th Army band from Joint Base Lewis-McChord will also be in attendance and provide music throughout the night.
"We're also going to have the best buffet the club offers, with prime rib and salmon," Morgan added.
Also new this year is that the base's Child Development Center will provide childcare for the event at a cost of $3 per hour per child.
"That's something that hasn't been available at previous balls," he said.
The price of a ticket for Airmen E-1 through E-6 and civilians GS-5 and below has also been lowered to $15 per person.
Ball organizers are hoping people with any kind of connection to the base make it a point to attend.
"We're really reaching out to the recruiting squadrons as well as ROTC units that are separated from the base," Morgan said. "We want them to come out and meet the rest of the squadrons and let them know that they are a part of everything."
Childcare at the CDC for the event requires pre-registration by calling (253) 982-4166. To purchase a ticket for the event or for more information, call (253) 982-2788 or email 62awccp.rsvp1@us.af.mil.