433rd AW Honorary Commanders enjoy Lackland Fiesta Military Parade Published April 23, 2013 By Ms. Elsa Martinez 433rd Airlift Wing Public Affairs JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND -- Eight Honorary Commanders assigned to the 433rd Airlift Wing braved unseasonably cool and breezy weather to join Col. Jeffrey Pennington, 433rd AW commander at the Lackland's Military Parade on April 19. The parade is one of the several military festivities held during San Antonio's 11 days of Fiesta. Due to the recent sequestration, the parade was combined with Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland's basic military training graduation. The stateliness of the weekly graduation ceremony resonated with all attending Honorary Commanders. Honorary Commander, Kathy Phoenix, 433rd Medical Group, marveled at the determination of all graduates as they took the oath, confirming their commitment to the Air Force and standing on the brink of their future U.S. Air Force careers. "As I saw so many young faces volunteering to defend our freedoms I thought of my children and how these brave airmen were their peers," she remarked. Jeffrey Downing is a first-term Honorary Commander for the 74th Aerial Port Squadron and was enthralled by the event. "I enjoyed being there to help celebrate this accomplishment and witness the next stage for all the Airmen," he said. "It's just another example of whereby partnering with leadership of the 433rd Airlift Wing has resulted in me having a greater overall appreciation of the Reserve forces."