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August 21, 2015 Community News Desert Wings
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Honorary commander spotlight — Gary Chapman
by Rebecca Amber Edwards,” said Chapman. &RXUWHV\SKRWRJUDSK
Staff writer Chapman served in the U.S. Army for three years with
For many years Edwards Air Force Base has valued the one tour in Vietnam. He received a Purple Heart for a gun-
support of the local community and one of the ways the shot wound and numerous Air Medals, one with a “V”
base stays connected with the surrounding communities is device for valor, as a door gunner on a gunship helicop-
through the Honorary Commanders Program. ter. Later on, he worked in the Space Shuttle Main Engine
program and was involved with the Veterans Task Force
Each year, community leaders are inducted as honorary and honor guard.
commanders and paired with group and squadron com-
manders at Edwards. He retired from Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne in 2008
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Throughout the year the honorary commanders are in-
vited to join their base commander counterparts for tours ,Q &KDSPDQ IRXQGHG WKH ³2SHUDWLRQ :HOFRPH
of the Edwards. Home” Veteran’s Day Parade, which raised over $10,000
that was donated to the William J. Pete Knight Veterans
Honorary commanders participate as volunteers at their Home in Lancaster, Calif.
own expense.
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Honorary commander Gary Chapman, retired Pratt & 9DOOH\DQGWKH¿UVWWLPHPDQ\9LHWQDP9HWVZHUH¿QDOO\
Whitney employee, is paired with the commander of the welcomed home. Walking on rose petals down Lancaster
Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center Detach- Blvd., there were few dry eyes at the beginning of this heal-
ment 1. At the start of the honorary commanders’ term, ing parade,” recalled Chapman.
that commander was Col. Mark Hoelscher who is now at
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. Chapman is looking ,QKHXVHGKLVH[SHULHQFHIURPWKH¿UVWSDUDGHWR
forward to meeting his new commander, Col. Steven Ross. help organize the Antelope Valley Veterans Day Parade. As
the owner of a Harley Davidson motorcycle, he continues to
To date, Chapman’s favorite honorary commander’s mo- ride with the Patriot Guard during “welcome home” events
PHQWZDVVLWWLQJLQWKHFRFNSLWRIDQ)DQGODWHUOHDUQLQJ for Soldiers returning home and for the departed. He is also
KRZWRÀ\LWLQWKHVLPXODWRU the commissioner for the Los Angeles Veterans Advisory
Commission.
“The collaboration with Edwards and the surrounding
community is impressive. I have learned an extraordinary Editor’s note: From time to time, Edwards Public Affairs
amount every time we visit. It makes me proud to be a will be highlighting participants in Edwards AFB’s Honorary
veteran and grateful to have a chance to learn more about Commander Program.
13 M I L L I O N AC R E S … A N D C O U N T I N G
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