Above, New Yorkers cheer Security Forces Airmen marching towards Battery Park, N.Y., Sept. 10, 2011, during the Security Forces 9/11 Ruck March to Remember 10-year anniversary of 9/11. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Bennie J. Davis III) Note the Defensor Fortis flags provided for their rucks by Eagle Chapter with many other AFSFA chapters supporting our initiative to provide a memento to each participant.

Happy Labor Day! The month of September has many significant events - most notable is the anniversary of the attack on our homeland. We will never forget the attack and the response of our Air Force Defenders. We'll always remember.

Below, SF Airmen assemble in NY City at the end of the final leg of the Ruck March to Remember that began at the Air Force Security Forces Center in San Antonio Texas. Eagle Chapter with the help of most of the existing chapters and HQ AFSFA provided a donation to one of the wreaths for wreath laying events at the Pentagon, Shanksville PA, and the one below shown in New York City. Eagle Chapter also distributed or hand-delivered over 500 Defensor Fortis flags for the rucks of every participant in the event. My - how time flies. When our nation calls - Eagle Chapter - now in our 20th year - is there!

Congratulations! Former Defender Mr./SES Chris Bargery - Appointed Director of Pentagon Force Protection Agency!

Mr. Bargery is a 28-year veteran of the US Air Force. He was the former Commander, Air Force Security Forces Center Joint Base San Antonio Texas. Not a stranger to the Pentagon Force Protection Agency (PFPA), Chris became the Deputy Director of PFPA in 2022 and has worked for the agency since 2018.

Click here to see more about Mr. Bargery Mr. Bargery joins Pentagon Police Chief Woodrow "Woody" Kusse as the second Defender at the top of PFPA. We hope to see Mr. Bargery at a future Eagle Chapter event.

Again Sir - Congratulations!

Outlined above with a golden border, third from right, when approved by NLEOM, SSgt John T. Self, (deployed from Little Rock Air Force Base Ark.), will be the final US Air Force Defender to die while serving in Afghanistan or Iraq that will have their name added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington DC. His Project Manager, Tech Sgt Shane Miller, has submitted all artifacts to me - I've made some minor tweaks. We are awaiting some additional family information before he pulls the trigger.

Of the fourteen Defenders in the image above, it was the OSI Hustler Six (6) event where four OSI Agents and two Defenders died that made the National LE Officers Memorial to finally understand that Air Force Defenders deserve the same recognition as OSI and other agents. Their recognition of TSgt Lemm and SSgt Bonacasa (also of the 105th) that helped us obtain the recognition of all Defenders - SSgt Self being the only one who died that has not yet been recognized. We'll get him done this year.

Staff Sergeant Charles L. Huskey, SrA Donald H. Heitkamp, and Airman First Class Barry P. Holmes of Ellsworth, End of Watch: 5/29/1986 - On that day, while aboard a UH1 Huey helicopter, which was providing security for a missile maintenance convoy, they died in the crash that occurred shortly after 3 p.m. that day.

I'm going to stick my neck out on this one. The new Project Manager, MSgt Dustin Silc, (pronounced SILK) Charlie Flight, Flight Chief, has assigned two of his sharp Tech Sgts to work with him and he has shown an eagerness that is rare at an initial kick off meeting that we held with him that Bryan and I had with him last month. We could get these three done this year. They may even find the surviving Defender fire team member from the crash - A1C Latania Huguley who now is 60 years old.

With the Ellsworth Three - we are currently working eight open cases. If you have some spare cycles, we can use help on the Eagle Chapter NLEOM Committee. Send me an email. Thank-you.

Eagle Member - Larry Zilliox - Asks for Our Help - Just Show Up!

I met Larrry earlier this year at a tour that he was leading at the Willing Warrior Retreat at Bull Run. We had a short discussion about the AFSFA, and he immediately signed up as a member.

See his email below where he asks us and all veterans to show support by being present. If you attend, recommend wearing veteran attire so that observers can see that they have veteran support.

Hello!

During the next meeting of the Prince William County Veterans Commission (September 7th), there will be a vote on whether to issue a resolution for the County Board to grant permanent property tax exemption to Willing Warriors/Warrior Retreat at Bull Run. This resolution would then be voted on (at a later date) by the County Board of Supervisors. It is important to have this first step so that as soon as the new Board Administration takes over on January 1, we can proceed. The PenFed Grand Lodge will be completed by the end of the year, and we will begin to be liable for additional property taxes. We pay nearly $23,000 yearly now and expect that to double with the completion of the PenFed Grand Lodge.

We need as many Veterans and concerned citizens to show up on Sept. 7th at 1900 hours as possible to show support for the Retreat. The meeting will be held at 1 County Complex Ct. Prince William, VA 22192. The fact that a nonprofit organization helping active-duty Wounded Warriors and Veterans has to pay property taxes in one of the wealthiest counties in the country is ridiculous. The money we pay the county is much better spent helping Wounded Warriors.

Please spread the word and if you can join us on September 7th, that would be great.

Larry Zilliox

Director of Culinary Services

Warrior Retreat at Bull Run

If you want to know more about the retreat - see the Eagle Chapter February Newsletter, or their website | or tune in to their podcast that Larry was setting up the day we toured.

See you there. As a 501(c)(19) veterans service non-profit, when a vendor gives Eagle Chapter a break and waive the tax, that provides more money for us to serve our SF Airmen and families. Not all businesses do that. Staples, for example, only waives tax for 501(c)(3). As a veteran and in appreciation for Larry quickly responding to help our Proud Warrior Airman Jonvenette Suriel-Jackson, I will be standing tall for Willing Warrior Retreat on Thursday, September 7. Larry our American Legion Post was eager to support this as well.

Thanks to our member and supporter donors TOO! While I appreciate the corporate and military service organization donations, our chapter members and supporters keep the lights on (so to speak), the post office box open, the web site operating, and this newsletter cost plus other expenses to enable us to serve.

October starts our annual donation drive. Thanks for your kind consideration.

Last month, I asked for feedback on the 20-year impact of Eagle Chapter. Below, in his words - Dave Coulie, Chairman of AFSFA's first chapter, the AFSFA Pete Magwood Chapter (Albuquerque, NM) replied:

Lee

All of us in the AFSFA and the SF career field owe a debt of gratitude for the multitude of things done on our behalf by Eagle Chapter. 

I have been the chair of AFSFA Pete Magwood Chapter for the past 22 years and have watched Eagle Chapter evolve from the get-go and have personally witnessed and occasionally participated in their many initiatives to assist and recognize SF members, past and present, and survivors of our fallen warriors. The work they do at Arlington National Cemetery and the Military Woman's Memorial and the visits to hospitalized SF members to ceremonies at the Maisey building and their successful effort to induct fallen warriors to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial are all examples of above and beyond chapter excellence. There's also the Vietnam Wall washes and support of the Ruck marches over the years as well as sponsoring 3-year Association membership for our SF members selected as a USAF Outstanding Airman of the Year. These are just a few of the many things done by Eagle Chapter with Lee Chambers at the helm.

At the Pete Magwood Chapter, we are proud to be the first Chapter to be chartered in the Association and we brag that #1 title. That said, with respect to the top chapter in AFSFA by way of past and ongoing initiatives no other Chapter can match Eagle. 

Though not a member I have made personal donations to Eagle Chapter over the years to help them with their many programs to recognize and assist the career field. It would be great for others to do likewise. What they have done and will continue to do going forward is outstanding and very much appreciated. Keep up the great work.

Dave Coulie 

Dave - Thank-you for these very generous words. It means a lot to us to be recognized by one of our association leaders. A great honor - thanks again.

We've updated the Eagle Proud Warrior Coin. The new coin has a gold brass finish instead of the pewter finish as before. It still is a 3-D coin based on the original design that we created in 2006 between a collaboration with Veronica Gonzales of KV Coins of San Antonio and Liz Jacobson's grandmother Sondra Millman. The quality of the coin really speaks for itself.

We're charging the same amount that we've always charged - $12.00 donation - this legacy amount now incurs at a subsidized cost to Eagle Chapter. So, we ask that you add about $3.00 for shipping and handling (1-3 coins) and - consider donating more to our program. See the examples below:

Example: 

1 coin + shipping is $15.

2 coins + shipping is $27.

3 coins + shipping is $39.

4 coins + shipping is $51.

5 Coins + shipping is $63.

Click here to see the Eagle Proud Warrior Coin page for a ready reference to these costs as well as an easy way to donate via credit card or PayPal.

Eagle Chapter is honored to have as our guest speaker this month, our AF Security Forces Association Region 1 Director, Michael Tsung.

Due to a special event to support our Willing Warrior Retreat, we rescheduled our Board of Officers meeting to this new day - same time. Our chapter board meetings are open to all members. Contact Rachel, our Chapter Secretary if you want to attend. She will provide the meeting call in information and previous meeting minutes.

We will not meet this Thursday - see you next Thursday with our guest speaker.

Our board meetings are open to all members and significant others. Again, the board will meet at 2000/8:00 PM Eastern Thursday September 14, 2023.

Congratulations to Karl. We returned from the AFSFA 37th Annual National Meeting with one win. At left, Karl Blinkinsop, Eagle Chapter Vice Chairman AF District of Washington (AFDW) Wing earned recognition for his induction into the AF Security Forces Association Hall of Fame. Congratulations again Karl. It was an honor for me to submit you and Rachel and having your support on our chapter board. See details of the AFSFA Hall of Fame inductees in a future AF Security Forces Magazine or go to the AFSFA Online website to see the other inductees in this year's Hall of Fame.

Another Congratulations - Eagle Board Member Tech Sgt. Ian Campbell has been selected to serve as the First Sergeant temporarily for the 816th SFS at Joint Base Andrews MD. Since he and his wife, Amanda, have now relocated their four bambinos from Fairfax VA to MD, it is an honor for me to nominate Ian to fill our vacant Vice Chair of our MD Wing. I really look forward to his help in making Buddy Check Calls of our second largest region. Ian will retain his role helping as Karl's Deputy Vice Chair AFDW Wing and a member of our NLEOM Committee.

WELCOME HOME Jessica Wruck!