News>Air Force Week Cocoa Beach begins with proclamation ceremony
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Undersecretary of the Air Force Erin C. Conaton addresses the audience in Cocoa Beach, Fla., Oct. 26, 2010, during the Proclamation Ceremony that formally launches Air Force Week Cocoa Beach. Air Force Week continues through Oct. 31.(U.S. Air Force photo/ Lance Cheung)
Air Force Academy Cadet Alexander Choi delivers the official proclamation certificate to Florida Lt. Governor Jeffrey Kottkamp to begin the Air Force Week Cocoa Beach proclamation ceremony Oct. 26, 2010. Cadet Choi, a member of the Academy’s Wings of Blue parachute team jumped from a C-130 Hercules and landed on the Cocoa Beach, Fla., waterfront to deliver the certificate. The proclamation ceremony was officiated by Mr. Kottkamp and Undersecretary of the Air Force Erin C. Conaton. Air Force Week Cocoa Beach runs through Oct. 31. (U.S. Air Force photo/Lance Cheung)
Undersecretary of the Air Force Erin C. Conaton addresses the audience in Cocoa Beach, Fla., Oct. 26, 2010, during the Proclamation Ceremony that formally launches Air Force Week Cocoa Beach. Air Force Week continues through Oct. 31.(U.S. Air Force photo/ Lance Cheung)
Undersecretary of the Air Force Erin C. Conaton answers questions Oct. 26, 2010, during an interview with Defense Media Activity reporters in Cocoa Beach, Fla. She was there to officiate the Proclamation Ceremony that formally launched Air Force Week Cocoa Beach. The Air Force Week runs through Oct. 31. (U.S. Air Force photo/Lance Cheung)
by Staff Sgt. Mareshah Haynes
Defense Media Activity - San Antonio
10/27/2010 - COCOA BEACH, Fla. (AFNS) -- Undersecretary of the Air Force Erin C. Conaton and Florida Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp helped kick off Air Force Week Cocoa Beach during a proclamation ceremony here Oct 26.
"We rely upon the public, who are here and in other parts of the country, to help us succeed," Ms. Conaton said to the more than 500 attendees at the ceremony. "Having the proclamation the lieutenant governor has been so kind to bestow on us here in Cocoa Beach -- home of not only our Air Force units, but also our Navy and Coast Guard partners -- symbolizes the relevance and significance of the joint fight we're in today."
The proclamation was hand-carried to the lieutenant governor by members of the U.S. Air Force Academy Wings of Blue parachute demonstration team, who jumped from a C-130 Hercules and landed on the beach in front of spectators for the special delivery.
Air Force Week allows Airmen the opportunity to share the Air Force experience with members of the community who may not normally interact with military personnel.
Exhibits from Air Force special tactics, explosive ordnance disposal and fire department units, among others, were on hand at the Cocoa Beach Pier to tell the Air Force story to the local community.
Sheilla Fontanez, an Orlando resident, was pleasantly surprised when she and her husband stumbled upon the Air Force Week festivities while on vacation in Cocoa Beach.
"I just wanted to get some fresh air on the beach and then we saw what was happening over here so we started looking around," Ms. Fontanez said.
Although she is familiar with the Army, thanks to a close friend who is a military spouse, Ms. Fontanez said she learned many things at the Air Force Week display.
She said the scaled-down C-17 Globemaster III replica and a demonstration of egress procedures was extremely interesting, although she admitted she was "not crazy" about jumping from a plane in mid-flight.
"I also liked when (the combat controllers) showed me how they carry the backpacks with the antenna on them that can send information from Iraq back to the states," Ms. Fontanez said. "I was amazed by that."
Other visitors, like Debbie and Gordon Sheppard of Boston, were equally excited about the Air Force Week events.
"I think it's great that (the Air Force) comes out like this," Mr. Sheppard said. "More people should see what the Air Force is all about. This is great stuff, all great stuff. I love it."
Air Force Week Cocoa Beach events are scheduled through the rest of the week, culminating with an air show Oct. 30 and 31 at the Cocoa Beach Pier.
