Celebration recognizes military, reminds community of sacrifices

  • Published
  • By Jasmine DeNamur
  • Team Eglin Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Local servicemembers are being recognized with a summer flare, and it's colored red, white and blue.

Capt. Brian Hurley, a contracting officer with the Air Armament Center, was the first Eglin Airman to be recognized at the Red, White and Blue Celebration at the Destin HarborWalk 18 Jun.

"Every Thursday throughout the summer, we have this celebration to honor local heroes few people know about or realize exist within the local community," said Bruce Craul, 33rd Fighter Wing honorary commander and event master of ceremonies. "They are our brothers and sisters in this area and they are very important to us."

The second annual summer-long festivities pay tribute to military members from the surrounding military communities of Eglin Air Force Base, Hurlburt Field, and Duke Field. Members being recognized are presented with a key to the city of Destin.

"Without them, what they do, and the sacrifices they make, we wouldn't be able to do what we want or enjoy our freedoms," said Mr. Craul. "We are here to recognize one such hero."

A Glen Fork, W.Va. native, Captain Hurley enlisted in the Air Force shortly after graduating from high school.

"I wasn't sure what I wanted to do. I decided to give an Air Force recruiter just 10 minutes of my time, and I was sold," said the now 20-year veteran.

Captain Hurley began his career in airfield management before commissioning in 2002 and transitioning to the contracting field. He has supported several contingencies with integral roles in Operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Southern Watch, and Enduring Freedom, and spread many continents including Africa.

"Africa was unbelievable. I was fortunate to work contracts in Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya and Tanzania," he said. "Classifying that experience as a deployment doesn't do it justice. It's a lifetime experience I will never forget."

The Red, White and Blue Celebration was not only dedicated to his accomplishments but to all things military - a patriotic choir group, three World War II-era T-6 Texan aircraft flyovers and a patriotic fireworks display. In addition to the ceremony, Captain Hurley was interviewed during a live radio broadcast his parents listened to online from West Virginia.

"This is the most sincere form of military appreciation I've ever seen from a community," said Captain Hurley. "This award could have been given to a multitude of people. Right now, there's an Eglin Airman flying an airplane in harm's way, another walking down a dangerous street overseas."

"There are a ton of Airmen that deserve this recognition. It's an honor, and I am truly humbled," he added.

Additional Eglin Airmen sharing this recognition will include Senior Airman Timothy Amos, representing the 33rd Fighter Wing June 25; Staff Sgt. Kevin Davidson, representing the 46th Test Wing July 23; Airman 1st Class Samantha Higgens, representing the 53rd Wing July 30; and Tech. Sgt. Robert Shomake, representing the 96th Air Base Wing Aug. 13.