WEBVTT

00:10.240 --> 00:11.900
- A rainy day forecast

00:11.900 --> 00:13.650
^was not enough to dampen

00:13.650 --> 00:14.980
^the sunny disposition

00:15.350 --> 00:17.610
^of the 145th Air Lift Wing

00:17.890 --> 00:20.190
during the April drill weekend

00:20.500 --> 00:23.180
as the unit held a massive ceremony

00:23.320 --> 00:25.170
to honor the arrival of the

00:25.170 --> 00:26.830
unit's first two

00:26.960 --> 00:30.533
C17 Globemaster 3 aircraft.

00:31.700 --> 00:33.303
Colonel Michael T Gerock,

00:33.510 --> 00:35.673
Wing Commander of the 145th,

00:35.914 --> 00:38.070
explains what these aircraft mean

00:38.070 --> 00:39.340
for the unit's future.

00:39.340 --> 00:41.170
^- So today is our arrival ceremony

00:41.213 --> 00:43.780
^of our first two C17 aircraft

00:43.780 --> 00:46.163
^out of the eight that we're gonna get eventually.

00:46.290 --> 00:47.680
As most of you guys know,

00:47.680 --> 00:49.680
that we've been without an aircraft now

00:49.950 --> 00:51.210
for over four and a half months

00:51.210 --> 00:52.650
and now our future's back

00:52.650 --> 00:54.630
and it's nice to see another piece of iron

00:54.630 --> 00:55.530
on the ramp again.

00:56.130 --> 00:57.880
This new aircraft represents a new mission

00:57.880 --> 00:59.470
and a new way of life for us.

00:59.470 --> 01:01.690
And no matter where in the world we go

01:01.770 --> 01:03.800
our tail flash from Charlotte, North Carolina's

01:03.800 --> 01:05.940
gonna be all over these airplanes

01:05.940 --> 01:07.090
and all over the world.

01:07.200 --> 01:08.990
For us and for the community as a whole,

01:08.990 --> 01:11.777
for the state this is another step towards

01:11.777 --> 01:14.355
the viability and the greatness

01:14.355 --> 01:16.560
that the North Carolina National Guard

01:16.560 --> 01:18.550
brings to this part of the country

01:18.550 --> 01:19.683
and the world.

01:20.250 --> 01:22.170
- The ceremony drew a massive

01:22.170 --> 01:24.190
and diverse crowd including

01:24.190 --> 01:26.060
North Carolina Congresswomen

01:26.280 --> 01:28.423
the Honorable Alma Adams,

01:28.530 --> 01:30.130
who honored the wing with words

01:30.130 --> 01:32.483
of praise and encouragement.

01:32.750 --> 01:33.780
^- Well listen,

01:33.780 --> 01:36.100
^this is a, not only is this is a great day

01:36.100 --> 01:37.650
^but it's a great opportunity

01:37.650 --> 01:39.220
^as we're gonna build that fleet.

01:39.220 --> 01:41.360
I'm happy to see them all

01:41.360 --> 01:43.353
once they are finished.

01:43.830 --> 01:45.510
But it's important for us,

01:45.510 --> 01:47.023
you know our security,

01:47.410 --> 01:50.760
making sure that the work that the

01:50.760 --> 01:54.380
men and women do here to keep our country safe,

01:54.380 --> 01:55.633
our community safe,

01:55.940 --> 01:57.423
we're just excited about it.

01:58.900 --> 02:00.650
- One retiree in attendance

02:00.650 --> 02:03.430
who served in North Carolina's National Guard

02:03.430 --> 02:06.805
as a heavy wheel mechanic for 28 years,

02:06.805 --> 02:09.130
eagerly expressed his thoughts

02:09.130 --> 02:10.603
on the new planes.

02:12.300 --> 02:14.600
- Well I wanted to come and see the new plane.

02:14.870 --> 02:17.320
I was wondering when they was gonna get the C17s.

02:17.545 --> 02:18.713
I've seen em.

02:18.920 --> 02:19.760
^Never been on one,

02:19.760 --> 02:20.653
^but I've seen em.

02:21.952 --> 02:23.823
^I know they'd be a comin some day.

02:24.660 --> 02:27.695
- For the 145th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

02:27.695 --> 02:30.183
I am Staff Sergeant Sonya Clark.