Keesler hosts Retiree Appreciation Day Published Oct. 21, 2013 By Senior Master Sgt. Jason Holbert 81st Communications Squadron KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- The Keesler Retiree Affairs Office sponsors its annual appreciation day starting at 8:30 a.m. Oct. 25 at the Roberts Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Facility on Hangar Road. A free fish fry at noon will end the event. Charles Partin, a retired senior master sergeant who is one of the office volunteers, said the event for area military retirees offers a forum to "ask questions and get answers" regarding important retiree benefits, base activities and other pertinent information. There will also be giveaways for participants. Health care professionals will be on hand to offer preventive health screenings, such as free blood pressure and diabetes checks. Same-day mammograms will be provided at Keesler Medical Center. Ivan McAlister, a retired master sergeant who also volunteers with the office, said there are more than 32,000 Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine and Coast Guard retirees in the local areas between Baton Rouge La. and Mobile, Ala. --More than 10,000 of them are prior Air Force. "Due to budget constraints, we are only able to send out Retiree Appreciation Day letters to former Air Force members," McAlister said. "However, this event is open to all services." The event will feature more than 30 displays with agency representatives from various organizations, including Keesler Medical Center, TRICARE, dental care services, base legal office, volunteer squadron, force support services, family readiness, Armed Forces Retirement Home, Veterans Administration Medical Center, Fisher House, Army and Air Force Exchange Service, Military Officers Association of America, Defense Finance and Accounting Service and Keesler Federal Credit Union. McAlister hopes that partnerships with other military organizations will help the retiree activities office "spread the word" to those outside of the local Air Force community. "In the past, we've estimated about 300 retirees attend this event every year, but we would love to see those numbers increase this year," he said. For more information, call 228- 376-8111.