A Walk Through Time

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Jessica Weissman
  • Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs
MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  A tradition believed to have started during the Cold War is still in full swing sixteen years into the new century.
The Air Force Ball commemorates the day in history, Sept. 18, 1947, that the U.S. Air Force became an individual military service after 40 years of association with the U.S. Army. Then President, Harry S. Truman, signed the National Security Act of 1947 to restructure the government’s military, thus creating the Department of the Air Force.
Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, hosted their gala on Sept. 17, 2016 to celebrate 69 years of air power.
“The theme for this year’s event, ‘A Walk Through Time‘, celebrates Air Force Heritage from 1947 to modern day,” said Capt. Elizabeth Jovanovich, medical logistics flight commander assigned to the 5th Medical Support Squadron and chair of the Air Force Ball committee. “The theme allowed us to capture each time period in Air Force history and allows each group an opportunity to decorate a piece of the hangar.”
Seven groups assigned to Minot AFB were slotted a different section of the Dock 8 hangar to decorate to a theme to specific time period and highlight their group’s heritage.
“Allowing the groups to decorate a section of the hangar gets the whole base involved in the ball”, said Tech. Sgt. Erin Kirby, public health flight chief assigned to the 5th Medical Operations Squadron and decorating chair of the Air Force Ball committee. “There is no better way than by commemorating major events through our Air Force history and giving each group the opportunity to show how they contributed to this heritage.”
The Air Force Ball committee dedicated five months to planning this event, from fundraisers and flyers to photographers and decorations.
“We hosted a lot of car washes and bake sales,” said Jovanovich. “We also received donation from several private organizations on base. We had enough money for the ball and some money left over for next year’s committee, which was our goal from the beginning.”
In addition to fundraisers, an Air Force Ball Expo was provided to attendees at the Combined Community Complex by Christina Giannone, spouse to Maj. Lance Giannone, wing chaplain assigned to the 5th Bomb Wing.
“The Air Force Ball Expo advertised the ball, showcased the Cinderella Boutique, and highlighted different talents we have on base,” said Jovanovich. “Mrs. Giannone had volunteers model dresses from the boutique, and volunteers that did hair and make-up specific to each time period. The Expo showed that you do not have to spend a lot of money to go to the ball. You can go for the price of dry cleaning at the boutique, and doing hair and make-up at home.”
The event is not only open to active duty personnel assigned to the base.
“Anyone can attend the ball that has an affiliation with the men and women of Minot AFB,” said Jovanovich. “We have several people that are bringing their family to the event including grandparents and parents!”