Annual Veterans Day event set for Nov. 11
Published 10:30 am Tuesday, November 10, 2015
The Historical Society of Federal Way and the noon Kiwanis Club of Federal Way is sponsoring their annual Veterans Day observance on Nov. 11.
“Honoring Our Own: Supporting Those Who Serve” will be held from 2-3 p.m. on Nov. 11 at Todd Beamer High School, 35999 16th Ave. S., Federal Way.
Bring your friends and family to be recognized during the event for their military service.
The event will kick-off with an introduction by the Historical Society of Federal Way’s Jerry Knutzen and the Kiwanis Club’s Dennis Hulse.
Todd Beamer High School’s Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps will present the colors and the school’s wind ensemble will perform the Star Spangled Banner.
Tom Leonard with VFW Post 2886 will lead the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by Mayor Jim Ferrell, who will discuss the importance of Veterans Day.
During the event, Harmony Kings, led by director Karen Frerichs, will perform and Boy Scout Troop 342 will present a special banner.
Counsel General, Rep. of Korea Duck Ho Moon will be a guest speaker and Air Force Colonel Will H. Phillips III will give the keynote address.
Phillips is the deputy Joint Base commander and commander, 627th Air Base Group, Joint Base Lewis-McChord. As deputy Joint Base commander, he is responsible with the Joint Base commander for an organization comprised of 4,475 military and civilian personnel that supports more than 350 units and an installation population of 44,209 military, 15,240 civilian and contract employees and 54,465 family members within 414,000 acres.
Along with the Joint Base commander, he manages an annual budget of $438 million and is responsible for installation management, facility maintenance and construction, environmental protection, housing, emergency management, communication systems, security and law enforcement, fire protection, dining, lodging, recreational services, human resources management, supply, and vehicle fleet management. As commander, 627th Air Base Group, he is responsible for organizing, training and equipping more than 800 Airmen in five squadrons and the chaplain and Equal Opportunity offices to execute installation support at home station and provide Expeditionary Combat Support to military operations worldwide.
Phillips graduated from Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas and received his commission through Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corp in May 1993. He is a career logistics readiness officer and has served in various key base-level positions to include commanding an aerial port squadron, an expeditionary logistics readiness squadron and was a deputy commander for a mission support group.
Phillips completed his joint staff tour as a logistics planner at United States Strategic Command at Offutt AFB, Nebraska. He then attended Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Alabama.
