RETIREMENT CEREMONY FOR TSGT PICKETTE
11 May 2001
(MSgt Schwartz is at podium. BG Urschler and TSgt Pickette are in the rear center of the room, and will proceed up the aisle to stand by the podium.)
SCHWARTZ: Ladies and gentlemen, please stand for the arrival of the retirement party, the posting of the colors and the national anthem.
Thank you, pleved in multiple programmatic unit positions. Recognized by the commander for his actions as the first junior Noncommissioned Officer Training Flight Commander, he was chosen to be the Noncommissioned Officer in Charge of the Quality Air Force section. The 97th Intelligence Squadron subsequently received the highest Quality Air Force Assessment rating ever awarded any squadron in the command. Sergeant Pickette again filled a senior management position by becoming the sole unit Quality Manager. His actions in this challenging position were recognized by higher headquarters when he was named the 67th Intelligence Group Noncommissioned Officer of the Quarter. As an airborne linguist, Sergeant Pickette was a qualified operator on four different aircraft platforms and certified as an Airborne Mission Supervisor, the most demanding enlisted position in the Air Intelligence Agency. The distinctive accomplishments of Sergeant Pickette culminate a distinguished career in the service of his country and reflect credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.
SCHWARTZ: Ladies and gentlemen, please be seated.
- 1 - URSCHLER: On behalf of the President of the United States, we present this certificate of appreciation.
SCHWARTZ: I EXTEND TO YOU MY PERSONAL THANKS, AND THE SINCERE APPRECIATION OF OUR NATION FOR YOUR HONORABLE SERVICE. YOU HELPED TO MAINTAIN THE SECURITY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WITH A DEVOTION TO DUTY THAT IS IN KEEPved in multiple programmatic unit positions. Recognized by the commander for his actions as the first junior Noncommissioned Officer Training Flight Commander, he was chosen to be the Noncommissioned Officer in Charge of the Quality Air Force section. The 97th Intelligence Squadron subsequently received the highest Quality Air Force Assessment rating ever awarded any squadron in the command. Sergeant Pickette again filled a senior management position by becoming the sole unit Quality Manager. His actions in this challenging position were recognized by higher headquarters when he was named the 67th Intelligence Group Noncommissioned Officer of the Quarter. As an airborne linguist, Sergeant Pickette was a qualified operator on four different aircraft platforms and certified as an Airborne Mission Supervisor, the most demanding enlisted position in the Air Intelligence Agency. The distinctive accomplishments of Sergeant Pickette culminate a distinguished career in the service of his country and reflect credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.
SCHWARTZ: Ladies and gentlemen, please be seated.
URSCHLER: On behalf of the President of the United States, we present this certificate of appreciation.
- 2 - SCHWARTZ: I EXTEND TO YOU MY PERSONAL THANKS, AND THE SINCERE APPRECIATION OF OUR NATION FOR YOUR HONORABLE SERVICE. YOU HELPED TO MAINTAIN THE SECURITY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WITH A DEVOTION TO DUTY THAT IS IN KEEPING WITH THE PROUD TRADITION OF THE ARMED FORCES.
I HONOR YOUR SERVICE AND RESPECT THE COMMITMENT AND LOYALTY YOU DISPLAYED OVER THE YEARS.
MY BEST WISHES TO YOU FOR HAPPINESS AND SUCCESS IN THE FUTURE. GEORGE W. BUSH, COMMANDER IN CHIEF
URSCHLER: On behalf of the 55th Wing Commander, we present this certificate of appreciation, it reads:
SCHWARTZ: It is my pleasure to personally congratulate you on your many years of honorable service with the United States Armed Forces. The members of the 55th Wing extend to you our sincere appreciation for your loyal and dedicated service.
During your distinguished career, there have been many changes in the Air Force necessitated by changing national requirements. You have been a part of these changes and you can look back with great satisfaction. You have made a vital contribution to every citizen of this great nation by helping to preserve our most precious, cherished and coveted possession---our freedom.
As you embark upon retirement, you Air Force encourages you to continue to promote the broad aims of air power and to remain knowledgeable of its continuing role as an instrument of national policy. We challenge you to actively support the causes to which you devoted your energies throughout your active military career.
- 3 - Again, congratulations and best wishes for a happy and fulfilling retirement. Sincerely Gregory H. Power, Brigadier General, Commander 55th Wing
URSCHLER: This particular presentation is not the norm for a retirement ceremony, but then Sergeant Pickette isn’t the norm for an NCO. This presentation is made on behalf of the Omaha City Council
SCHWARTZ: READ PROCLAMATION Whereas, Technical Sergeant Michael J. Pickette has provided faithful and loyal service to our Country while serving in the United States Air Force; and,
Whereas, He helped to maintain the security of the United States of America with a devotion to duty that is in keeping with the proud tradition of the armed forces; and,
Whereas, Upon the circumstance of his retirement from Active Duty, the City of Omaha honors his service and respects the commitment and loyalty he displayed over the years,
Now, Therefore, We, the City Council of the City of Omaha, do hereby proclaim May 11, 2001, as
Technical Sergeant Michael J. Pickette Day
In Witness Whereof, we have set our hands and caused the Official Seal of the City of Omaha to be affixed this 17th day of April 2001.
Marc Kraft, City Council President
- 4 - URSCHLER: Over the two decades of his active duty service, Michael Pickette touched many lives over his career. Some in overt ways during the long hours spent with trainees and supervisees and some when he stepped in during their time of need. Today MSgt Dwight Cole represents all those people by making a presentation on behalf of 97 IS DOT.
COLE: PRESENTATION
URSCHLER: Nobody will ever know the depth and breadth of an RIVET JOINT crew member without accepting the challenge of flying the missions. There exists a brotherhood among fliers, and among reconnaissance fliers in particular, that is unlike any other.
As a rule, we have the virtue of knowing who our adversaries are, and with luck, persevere without them being aware of us. Our call word is silence and our recognition lies in knowing that we have done our job and done it well.
The fabric that holds us together is woven from years of training, tedious hours in the air, brief minutes of terror and consists of loyalty, pride, blood, sweat, and tears.
Michael Pickette is the embodiment of these characteristics. His passion and determination has left an indelible mark on the Air Force. The Airborne community will feel a great void as he retires from their ranks.
URSCHLER: POST THE RETIREMENT ORDER!
SCHWARTZ: (read retirement orders, while large certificate is presented) Certificate of Retirement from the Armed Forces of the United States of America
- 5 - To all who shall see these presents, greetings: This is to certify that Technical Sergeant Michael J. Pickette, having served faithfully and honorably, was retired from the United States Air Force on the First day of August 2001.
Signed: Brigadier General Gregory H. Power, 55th Wing Commander General Michael E. Ryan, Air Force Chief of Staff
SCHWARTZ: The Offutt AFB Honor Guard will now perform the flag folding ceremony.
SCHWARTZ: READS THE FOLLOWING
PRELUDE: "No flag ever devised by man has so clearly expressed the ideals of true democracy in its design... It has been literally the guiding star of our pioneers, explorers, humanitarians and soldiers. It has interwoven its threads into the texture of every chapter of our national romance. No adult or child can comprehend the majesty of the history of the United States who is ignorant of the story of Old Glory."1
NOTE : Honor Guard should unravel and fold the flag into quarter fold while this is being read.
"A thoughtful mind, when it sees a nation's flag, sees not the flag, but the nation itself. And whatever may be its symbols, its insignia, one reads chiefly in the flag, the government, the principles, the truths, the history that belongs to the nation that sets it forth. The American flag has been a symbol of liberty, and men rejoice in it."2
First fold: The first fold represents our country, our unity as a nation. "This flag which we honor and under which we serve, is the emblem of our unity, our power, our thought and purpose as a
- 6 - nation. It has no other character than that which we give it from generation to generation. The choices are ours."3
Second Fold: The second fold reminds us that our flag " floats in majestic silence above the hosts that execute those choices, whether in peace or in war. And yet, though silent, it speaks to us--speaks to us of the past, of the men and women who went before us, and of the records they wrote upon it. 4
Third Fold: The third fold speaks of patriotism which “...should be taught at the mother's knee when the innocent lips are taught to lisp..."5 “I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America..."6 Teach them to love the word 'country'. Teach them that the nobler act of a noble life is to die, if need be, in its defense. Then insist that the lesson at the school be befitting the children of American citizens. Let the American flag be constantly in sight -- in the home, in the street, in the school..."7
Fourth Fold: The fourth fold equates to the four branches of the Armed Service. It honors those who have best embraced the ideal "Our country! In her intercourse with foreign nations, may she always be in the right; but our country, right or wrong."8
Fifth Fold: The fifth fold is for the young corporals and sage sergeants; for captains and majors; for pastors and rabbis and priests; for the buck privates who without benefit of grenades, trench mortars, or tanks, plunged into machine-gun thickets to fight “a War to end all Wars”9. They found themselves adrift in a blind world of whiteness, mustard gas and noise, groping over something like the surface of the moon, with nothing to guide them but the flag of our country.
Sixth Fold: The sixth fold reminds us of the six battle-weary fighters who vigilantly struggled to the top of Mount Suribache on Iwo Jima during World War II. Once there, they proudly raised
- 7 - above the battle, our flag, the symbol "that we all hold dear"10 ,the symbol of "...freedom, democracy, government of the people, by the people, and for the people... It is our duty to defend the flag which stands for them all."11
Seventh Fold: The seventh fold shows the number of red stripes found on our flag. Red, the color of our blood, signifies the hardiness and valor shown throughout our history when young men and women have been called upon to defend our country. That red reminds us all the "real foundation of our liberty is solidified by the warm blood of all who died for the ideas of our great nation."12
Eighth Fold: The eighth fold stands for the white in our flag. It signifies the purity and innocence of our children and calls upon us all to ensure our highest beliefs of liberty, honor, and country are carried forward from generation to generation.
Ninth Fold: This ninth fold commemorates "the blue in our union which stands for vigilance, perseverance, and justice."13 The blue reminds us that our country is a new constellation among governments, one founded on the highest of moral principles.
Tenth Fold: The tenth fold shows that our flag takes on a higher meaning when looked upon as a whole rather than as an assortment of colors and symbols. For "we took the stars from heaven; the red from our mother country, separating it by white stripes..."14 to show we have separated from her; those "white stripes shall go down in posterity, representing liberty."15 For what other flag "has carried the message of freedom to so many parts of the world?"16
Eleventh Fold: The eleventh fold signifies our dedication to the spirit of liberty--the spirit our great country was built upon. “Where can you find another country where liberty stands bright and pleasant at the door saying: ‘If you believe in me, come and
- 8 - be one of us’?"17 And even today, they come. Immigrants in rags and silks. But always, "liberty comes in their hearts--those bold hardy ones from every land who dare choose freedom. Those who believe: 'Where liberty is, there is my home.'"18
Twelfth Fold: The twelfth fold is for our fallen comrades; those deceased, prisoner of war, and missing in action; it is in recognition of their sacrifice. For them, we "raise it solemnly again, salute it reverently as never before, live for it, die for it!"19 For even after death, they send their spirit back...for it. This fold is for our past.....Lest we forget.
Tuck: As we tuck the last fold into the flag, we are reminded of Technical Sergeant Michael Pickette, who has served a long and honorable career. This fold is for you, for your conscientious and faithful dedication to duty and country -- for the 20 devoted years spent in the defense of our nation and the principles for which we and our flag stands.
NOTE : The Honor Guard presents the flag to the retiree while these words are spoken.
We present this flag with this dedication--"The flag of our country, what higher assurance of sympathy, honor, and trust could we give?”20 "The crown of our fathers' unflinching endurance. 'Tis the emblem of all you have sworn to defend: of freedom and progress, with order combined, the cause of the Nation, of God, and Mankind."21 URSCHLER: Ladies and Gentlemen: TSgt (RETIRED) Michael J. Pickette
SCHWARTZ: Mrs. Pickette, will you please come forward?
- 9 - URSCHLER: Mrs. Pickette, will you please pin on the Air Force retirement device?
Retiree comments…
URSCHLER: At this time, I’d like to recognize Lori for her significant contributions and sacrifices to the Air Force by supporting and encouraging her husband throughout his career.
URSCHLER: This certificate of appreciation recognizes her steadfast support and reads as follows:
On behalf of a grateful nation, I’m pleased to present to you this certificate on the occasion of your spouse’s retirement from the United States Air Force. Your many significant contributions through the years have made possible his outstanding service during the course of his Air Force career. The 55th Wing extends to you deep personal gratitude and appreciation for all that you’ve done for the United States Air Force.
Gregory H. Power, Brigadier General, Commander 55th Wing
URSCHLER: Michael, we are grateful and proud to have served with you. May God be with you and your family as you continue your journey.
SCHWARTZ: Ladies and gentlemen, please stand for the departure of the retirement party.
Play Air Force Song
SCHWARTZ: Ladies and gentlemen, please remain to meet with TSgt Pickette and his family and partake in the buffet, with social hour to take place at the Stripes Club pub immediately following.
- 10 - Bibliography:
1. Samuel Abbot
2. Henry Ward Beecher
3. President Woodrow Wilson
4. President Wilson on Flag Day in 1917
5. Julia S. Conklin
6. The Pledge of Allegiance
7. Julia S. Conklin
8. Stephen Decatur (American Naval Officer 1779-1820)
9. H.G. Wells, 1914 (Popularized by Woodrow Wilson)
10. Henry Cabot Lodge, Flag Day, 1913
11. Henry Cabot Lodge, Flag Day, 1913
12. Ibid
13. Ibid
14. President George Washington
15. Ibid
16. John Hancock Insurance Speech on Flag Day
17. Ibid
18. Ibid
19. Norman Guthrie
20. Ladies of New York to the 7th Regiment during the Civil War
21. Ibid
- 11 -