2017/06/05 - Mayor's Column: Celebrating 100 Years of History with Scott Air Force Base
“An Open Door to O’Fallon”
A Weekly Note from O’Fallon Mayor Herb Roach
One hundred years is a long time. There are few, if any, O’Fallon residents that can remember one hundred years ago, and what it was like before Scott Field (Air Force Base) existed.
One hundred years ago, a decision was made by the U.S. War Department that would forever change O’Fallon and the surrounding communities. That decision was to lease and construct a “flying field” in the rural countryside of the Midwest. This flying field would become what we now know as Scott Air Force Base. Over the years, Scott has transformed into an extremely important military installation, not only for the O’Fallon area, but for the United States of America.
According to the 375th Air Mobility Wing’s Public Affairs Office, Scott is the fourth oldest continuously active base in the Air Force, with a history that reaches back to World War I. Scott Field started as a pilot training base, transitioned into lighter-than-air missions, and added a communications school mission during World War II. After the birth of the Air Force, Scott helped usher in the modern jet age, and has grown into the nation’s premier transportation and cyber hub for the Department of Defense.
This year, Scott is holding its centennial celebration – one hundred years in existence. Throughout the year, Scott is hosting numerous events to help celebrate. The largest public event on base will be the 2017 Airshow and Open House, held on June 10-11, 2017, featuring the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds.
The Air Show is free to attend and open for all. If you can attend, I highly encourage you to do so. On June 10th and 11th, the gates to Scott Air Force Base will open at 9 a.m. The air show ceremonies begin at 11:15 a.m. and are scheduled to continue until 5 p.m. For more information about the air show, please go to www.scott.af.mil/airshow2017/.
I cannot say enough about the tremendous impact Scott Air Force Base has on the O’Fallon community. As the history of Scott Air Force Base has been shaped over the last 100 years, so too has the history of O’Fallon. Without Scott, O’Fallon, and the entire region, would be very different. My own family owes part of its history to the base, since my wife, Nancy, was born at the base hospital.
So, please join me, and many other O’Fallon residents, in celebrating our one hundred years of shared history with Scott Air Force Base, and excitement over what the next one hundred years has in store!
As residents of O’Fallon, you should always be able to reach out to your elected officials and ask questions about what is happening in O’Fallon. Having open communications is important to me and something I care very deeply about. Thank you for reading, and please remember, my door is always open!