81st TRW celebrates Gulf Coast retirees

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Holly Mansfield
  • 81st Training Wing Public Affairs

The 81st Training Wing hosted its annual Retiree Appreciation Day at the Roberts Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Facility here Nov. 4.

More than 20 support services from around the base and local area gathered to provide local military retirees and their dependents with important information about medical, pay benefits and activities available to them in Mississippi.

“We had various informative booths ranging from the Fisher House, Veterans Affairs, Base Exchange, Sexual Assault Prevention and Response and the 81st Force Support Squadron,” said Senior Master Sgt. Noel Ramirez, 81st Contracting Squadron superintendent. “The first sergeants also came out to cook all of the food for lunch at the end of the event.”

Col. Jeannine Ryder, 81st Medical Group commander, showed her appreciation for the more than 32,000 military retirees residing in the Gulf Coast area as the guest speaker at the event.

“The bottom line is that when your country needed you, you stepped up to the plate and took care of us,” said Ryder. “I and the 81st MDG Airmen are dedicated to honoring retirees by giving you the best medical care possible and making sure all of your needs are met.”

Ryder spoke of several new medical services available to military retirees and how the 81st MDG Airmen are dedicated to helping those getting treatment at the Keesler Medical Center.

“I’m humbled and honored to be the 81st MDG commander because we take care of the best active duty, dependents and retirees who paved the way for us,” said Ryder. “We are working very hard on improving our services and adding services like our orthopedic joint specialist and radiology oncology to better service those coming here for their medical needs.” 

Event coordinators and volunteers ended the event with a fish fry and live entertainment from the Keesler Drum and Bugle Corps and Drill Team.

“It’s important to recognize our military retirees because they laid the foundation for all of us currently serving,” said Ramirez. “We should keep ties with them to make sure they are taken care of and have access to military treatment facilities and make sure they understand we care about them. Having events like this is our way of thanking them for their service and all they have done to allow us to be the amazing military we are today.”