Hilltop Times – Hill Air Force Base Weekly Newspaper Since 1948

Katie, a new Sesame Street character designed to relate to military children, will be present at the USO Tour on July 13-14 at Syracuse High School.

"The USO is very excited to partner again with Sesame Workshop as we return the tour to the U.S. with a fresh new look, theme and character. Our nation's military community is our top priority, especially our youngest heroes. Elmo's new friend Katie helps military kids just like her learn how to make new friends wherever they are," said Sloan Gibson, USO President and CEO, about the show and it's newest addition.

They started out in San Francisco, they'll end up at Virginia Beach, Va. Fourteen disabled military personnel, with two other participants coming along for the ride. The group, taking a total of 63 days, with a few rest days on the way will make their way across Highway 50 with few deviations from one coast to the other, with other occasional extra disabled and other voluntary bicyclists accompanying them from time to time.

The Sea to Shining Sea 2012 event gives these riders an opportunity to experience America, meet people on the way and work together as a group.

The Hill AFB open house and air show boasted thrills and chills, not just as a result of viewing agile aerial demonstrations of skill as the weather ended up playing a large role in the Warriors Over the Wasatch: A Legacy of Valor May 26-27. With events scattered throughout three days, including pre-show events on Friday, May 25, bursts of rain, even occasional hail, did stir up the schedule somewhat on Saturday and Sunday but determined crowds came out in force and were rewarded with Thunderbird flights each afternoon.

A local Hill AFB youth recently qualified to represent Utah at the Western division of the MLB Pitch, Hit, and Run competition. Michaela Vollmer, 8, daughter of Tech. Sgt. Jason Vollmer, 388th Component Maintenance Squadron, scored 239 points at the Odgen sectional competition held at Lindquist Field in Ogden May 19. Michaela will travel to Coors Field in Denver June 9 for the next level of competition.

"I'm very excited, but a little nervous too," said Michaela of the competition. "My favorite is pitching because it's the most complicated. But I like the other things, too."

A self-taught pilot, barnstormer and soldier of fortune type pilot, who scouted the air flight links over the Himalaya Mountains to supply Chang Kia-shek's Nationalist Army should the Burma Road trade route be broken, was inducted into the Utah Aviation Hall of Fame at the Hill Aerospace Museum on Memorial Day.

It was the support of the community and the support of Ogden City's leaders that sustained the Ogden Police Department in the difficult days after Agent Jared Francom's death, said Assistant Police Chief Eric Young at a presentation May 15 at the Hill Aerospace Museum.

The Boy Scouts hanging innumerable flags in the cold before the procession through the streets of the community, the mounting of a huge flag at the corner of 25th Street and Washington Avenue by the fire department, the outpouring of support from the lined streets by residents.

The commander of Air Combat Command, Gen. Mike Hostage, recently announced that Holly Cope, the 421st Aircraft Maintenance Unit key spouse, earned the 2011 ACC Key Spouse of the Year Award.

In February, Cope was first selected as the 388th Fighter Wing's Key Spouse of the Year before competing at the major command (MAJCOM) level.

As Cope heard Col. Scott Long, 388th Fighter Wing commander, describing the winner of the award she found herself trembling.

Maj. Gen. Andrew Busch, Ogden Air Logistics Center commander, presented the Spirit Pin design winner at a Hill staff meeting May 1.

Brad Lundell, T-38 and F-5 Landing Gear engineer, took top honors by incorporating wings, a state of Utah shape and the star to represent the Hill AFB location. Also included are symbols of the Department of Defense, the Air Force and F-16s.

The Northern Wasatch Association of Realtors (NWAOR) and Layton City are sponsoring the "Sounds of Freedom" Appreciation Day for the public to honor and support the military and their families of Hill Air Force Base. The event June 2 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. will begin with a flag ceremony and F-16 flyover.

Falcon Radio Controlled Model Airplane Club members will display models Saturday, May 19, at the Base Exchange, and since it's always much easier to demonstrate why they enjoy their sport than it is to explain it, an open house will be held at the base RC Flying Field, Sunday, May 20, from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.

The field, located just east and a bit north of the new parking area by the Building 1200 series, will feature flying, the chance to fly a plane via a dual control set-up, and free hot dogs and sodas.