Run honors fallen members

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Aja Heiden
  • 482nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs
HOMESTEAD AIRE RESERVE BASE, Fla. --  The 70th Aerial Port Squadron at Homestead Air Reserve Base, Florida, organized and participated in a Port Dawg 5K on the track located at the Sam Johnson Fitness Center here May 2.

For the second consecutive year the 70th APS gathered for an event that goes beyond squadron divisions and spans the entire Air Force to honor fallen members of Aerial Port Squadrons around the world.

"This 5K honors fallen members, boosts moral and creates unity between Aerial Porters throughout the Air Force, said Senior Master Sgt. Fernando Buitrago, 70th APS superintendent.

The mission of the 70th APS is to provide unrivaled deployment capability to the Air Force as needed by ensuring personnel and equipment are on time and on target to and from their destination.

"We are called 'Port Dawgs' because we work the Aerial Port, and squadrons usually have a dog on their squadron logo," said Senior Airman Brian Posada, air transportation specialist for the 70th APS. "Essentially, we facilitate the movement of cargo by building pallets, loading, off-loading cargo from planes. We also facilitate the movement and transportation of passengers."

This year over 100 service members participated in the run to show their support of fallen members.

"I was motivated to participate in the Port Dawg Memorial 5K to show support to the fallen Airmen in the Air Transportation career field because it helps us connect to the greater picture of our career field," said Posada. "The Air Transportation family is pretty tight-knit."

The event was concluded with remarks from the 70th APS commander, Lt. Col. James Lawrence, who thanked the participants for supporting the Air Force, Aerial Porters around the world, and each other.

"This year two retired Aerial Porters from the local community passed away, and this run was a great way to remember them," said Chief Master Sgt. Frederick A. Becking, 70th APS operations chief.