A Missouri Air National Guard drill weekend can have formal and not-so-formal aspects at Rosecrans Memorial Airport. Sunday began with men and women decked out in dress blue uniforms at the 139th Airlift Wing’s medals presentation.

“For new members to this unit here are a whole bunch of examples for you to follow,” said Col. Stephen Cotter, Chief of Staff for the Missouri Air National Guard.

Staff Sgt. Ryan Wagner received the Air Medal for working under extremely hazardous conditions between December 2007 and January 2008 while flying at Bagram Air Force Base, Afghanistan. The staff sergeant flew 12 hour supply missions to forward areas during that month. The award of the Air Medal recognizes personnel who are current air crew members and distinguished themselves by meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight.

“When we landed it was often on dirt airstrips, the kind of fields where only a C-130 could land,” Mr. Wagner said.

Some of those missions involved air evacuations of injured civilians, contractors and military personnel, he said.

Mr. Wagner said he joined the Air Guard nine years ago to serve his country and pay for a college education. It took eight years with three overseas tours but in May, Mr. Wagner received a bachelor’s degree in history from Park University.

Other individuals in the Airlift Wing earned the Air Medal but are currently overseas, said Maj. Barb Denny, a spokeswoman for the Wing.

Three officers, two chief master sergeants, five senior master sergeants and four master sergeants received Meritorious Service medals acknowledging noncombat achievement or service. Air Force Commendation medals were awarded to 12 staff sergeants and four senior airmen for distinguishing themselves by distinctive meritorious achievement. Eight staff sergeants, 15 senior airman, and six airmen first class received Air Force Achievement medals for distinguish by outstanding achievement or meritorious service. Additional medals were presented in ceremonies hosted by the Wing’s individual squadrons.

Tech. Sgt. Robert Lovelady was the winner of this year’s Col. John B. Logan Memorial Award.

Following the ceremony, things got more informal as the Airlift Wing prepared for the annual family fun day. This is an event the unit holds with the help of about a hundred volunteers, plus the Midland Empire Chapter of the Red Cross and the USO.

“Both of those organizations go the extra mile and are huge supporters of ours,” said Jane Lackey, the family services volunteer coordinator.

Children of service members lined up for fun activities as the aroma of cooking meats wafted across the air base. But for Zakarey Harrelson, 12, the chance to see and spend time at Rosecrans with his father, Senior Airman James Harrelson, was the most important part of the day.

Marshall White can be reached

at marshall@npgco.com.