Lt. Col. Michael Edwards, an operations officer of 1st Special Operations Support Squadron, leads 1st SOSS Airmen in a formation during a retreat ceremony at Hurlburt Field, Fla., June 27,2012. Retreat signals the end of the official duty day and serves as a ceremony to honor the flag. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Michelle Vickers)
Senior Airman Bob Keophakdy, an air traffic controller from 1st Special Operations Support Squadron, secures the American flag as it is lowered during the weekly retreat ceremony in front of 1st Special Operations Wing headquarters at Hurlburt Field, Fla., June 27, 2012. The honor of performing retreat is rotated among different squadrons on base. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Michelle Vickers)
A line of Airmen from the 1st Speciial Operations Support Squadron perform flag detail during a retreat cermony in front of 1st Special Operations Wing headquarters at Hurlburt Field, Fla., June 27, 2012. The honor of performing retreat is rotated among different squadrons on base. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Michelle Vickers)
Staff Sgt. Megan Knight, an aviation management technician from 1st Special Operations Support Squadron, secures the American flag after it is folded during the weekly retreat ceremony in front of 1st Special Operations Wing headquarters at Hurlburt Field, Fla., June 27, 2012. The flag detail members from the squadrons are trained in how to perform retreat ceremonies by the base honor guard. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Michelle Vickers)
Col. Jim Slife, commander of 1st Special Operations Wing, speaks to Airmen of 1st Special Operations Support Squadron about the importance of honoring the American flag, after a retreat ceremony in front of wing headquarters at Hurlburt Field, Fla., June 27, 2012. Retreat ceremonies are performed weekly with different squadrons rotating who carries out the honor. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Michelle Vickers)
The American flag flies over the 1st Special Operations Wing headquarters building at Hurlburt Field, Fla., June 27, 2012. Honoring the flag is the central focus of retreat ceremonies which are performed here every Wednesday. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Michelle Vickers)
by Airman 1st Class Michelle Vickers
1st Special Operations Wing Public Affairs
7/5/2012 - HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. -- Airmen from 1st Special Operations Support Squadron conducted a retreat ceremony at 1st Special Operations Wing headquarters June 27.
The retreat ceremony observes the end of the official duty day with the lowering and folding of the American flag.
Photos and layout by Airman 1st Class Michelle Vickers
Comments
7/6/2012 1:36:34 PM ET I was with the 1st Air Commando wing at England AFB LA from December 1966 to June 1968. I was was assigned with the Intelligence Unit and went through many tough schools and was called on for the North Korean confiscation of the Phoenix and then went to the 14th Secial Ops at Nha Trang with assigned duty to the the 5th SPF. It does my heart proud to see all the things that are being done by the unit now. We lost many good peoplr in Viet Nam and it continues to this day. We were called Air Commando's back then and I feel I helped to initiate some of the pride and spirite that continues today. Keep up the good work
Gary Stanfield, Woodward OK 73801
7/6/2012 11:18:01 AM ET Getting back to basics does't hurt and gives a sense of pride
