The David C Jones Chapter 135 is part of the national Air & Space Forces Association. As part of the national association, the local chapters are able to give out national awards to members who deserved to be recognized. On April 9th at the Commander’s Choice Awards event North Dakota State Chairman, Jim Simons, handed out three very special awards. The first being an AFA Aerospace Education Fellowship presented to Ron Garcia.
AFA Educational Fellowship
Created in the 1970s under Sen. Barry Goldwater’s Aerospace Education Foundation leadership, AFA’s Aerospace Education Fellowships honor supporters whose efforts merit special recognition, with the first fellowship awarded to Jo Doolittle, wife of Gen Jimmy Doolittle. Built on this legacy, the AFA fellowship program enables chapters to honor member’s commitment to furthering aerospace education. Funds raised from fellowships go directly to AFA Aerospace Education programs. The fellowships provide an excellent way to honor and recognize significant contributions while funding and expanding AFA’s education programs.
Ron Garcia has in his words “been a lifetime member forever.” Ron has been an active member and supporter of David C. Jones Chapter 135 and is a member who has given back to the association. In Ron’s name a $1,000.00 Gen. Bernard A. Schriever Fellowship was presented to the AFA. “It was the perfect timing and setting to give Ron this award” according to ND State AFA President Jim Simons.
Exceptional Service Award
An Exceptional Service Award shall be presented to those individual AFA members who have performed exceptional services for AFA in local, regional, or national fields. This year the David C. Jones Chapter 135 was proud to present an exceptional Service Award to George Masters.
The annual Commander’s Choice Awards banquet has been held for 42 years and recently has been under the guidance and direction of George Masters. Not only has George undertaken the organization of the banquet, but he was also instrumental in the development of the plaques, over 42 of them, that were given to this year’s award recipients. “What can you say about George other than he gets it done every year” said Col Jimmy Schlabach, Commander of the 91st Missile Wing.
There are a number of details that must be managed for the Commander’s Choice Awards banquet; from receiving the recipients’ names to organizing the banquet right down to who will sing the National Anthem.
In particular, George has always ended the Commander’s Choice Awards banquet with Lee Greenwood’s emotional singing of “God Bless The U.S.A.
Medal of Merit
awarded for exceptional services in local, regional, or national fields and shall denote great initiative on the part of the recipient for specific achievements. Consideration shall be given to those individual AFA members whose achievements are being recognized for the first time.
Jim Bowman received the Air and Space Forces Medal of Merit this year. Jim is President of David C. Jones Chapter 135, and besides organizing and facilitating the monthly meetings held the 3rd Tuesday of every month, Jim is active in all of the AFA activities, including helping the David C. Jones chapter to receive local grants from organizations such as the VFW.
Jim has also taken on the responsibility of working with local web developer Amy Richards to keep the David C Jones chapter updated and pertinent.
