Arts in the Armed Forces visits Texas Reserve wing

After the performance of “True West,” at the Charline McCombs Empire Theatre, June 29, 2019, actors took questions from the audience, making it a most memorable night to remember for most. The artists, who signed up for the performance. From left to right, director, Oliver Butler; program director and Erica Newhouse. Actors; Chris Lowell, Michael James Shaw. Chad L. Coleman and L. Scott Cadwell. (Courtesy photo by Dina Castro)

Arts in the Armed Forces visits Texas Reserve wing

Actor, Michael James Shaw, on stage at the Charline McCombs Empire Theatre, June 29, 2019, in downtown San Antonio. Shaw was one of the main characters in the reading of “True West.” The play is a character study that examines the relationship between Austin, a screenwriter (portrayed by Shaw) and his older brother Lee, played by Chad L. Coleman. (Courtesy photo by Stuart Rome)

Arts in the Armed Forces visits Texas Reserve wing

Arts in the Armed Forces played to a nearly full house, June 29, 2019, at the Charline McCombs Empire Theatre in downtown San Antonio. A group of four actors volunteered their time to perform a reading of “True West,” a play written by American playwright Sam Shepard. The artists, who signed up for the performance, were L. Scott Caldwell, Chad L. Coleman, Chris Lowell, and Michael James Shaw. The Arts in the Armed Forces, Inc. is a non-profit based in Brooklyn, New York. Its mission brings high-quality arts programming to active-duty and Reserve service members, veterans, military support staff, and their families around the world free of charge. (Courtesy photo by Stuart Rome)

Arts in the Armed Forces visits Texas Reserve wing

Director Oliver Butler with the Arts in the Armed Forces, looks over the controls in the cockpit of a C-5M Super Galaxy during a tour of the 433rd Airlift Wing, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, June 28, 2019. The AITAF visited San Antonio to perform a reading of “True West,” to San Antonio’s local military personnel, veterans, and their families. The Arts in the Armed Forces, Inc. is a non-profit based in Brooklyn, New York. Its mission brings high-quality arts programming to active-duty and Reserve service members, veterans, military support staff, and their families around the world free of charge. (Courtesy photo by Stuart Rome)

Arts in the Armed Forces visits Texas Reserve wing

Actors and support staff from the Arts in the Armed Forces head toward a C-5M Super Galaxy, June 28, 2019, at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, for a tour of the massive aircraft. During the tour, the group experienced a simulated flight in the wing’s C-5M simulator. The Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Endeavors in San Antonio sponsored the group to San Antonio, and the Alamo Wing was the first stop the group visited. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Kristian Carter)

Arts in the Armed Forces visits Texas Reserve wing

Actor, Michael James Shaw sits in the cockpit of a C-5M Simulator during a tour of the 433rd Airlift Wing, Joint Base San Antonio, Texas June 28, 2019. Shaw was one of the four actors who performed a reading of “True West” to San Antonio’s local military personnel, veterans, and their families, June 29, 2019, at the Charline McCombs Empire Theatre. The Arts in the Armed Forces, Inc. is a non-profit based in Brooklyn, New York. Its mission brings high-quality arts programming to active-duty and Reserve service members, veterans, military support staff, and their families around the world free of charge. (Courtesy photo by Stuart Rome)

Arts in the Armed Forces visits Texas Reserve wing

Published July 9, 2019
By Minnie Jones
433rd Airlift Wing

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas --

Arts in the Armed Forces visited the 433rd Airlift Wing and got an up-close look at the wing’s massive C-5M Super Galaxy aircraft, and experienced a simulated flight in the wing’s C-5M simulator, June 28, here. The AITAF group was here to perform a reading of “True West,” to San Antonio’s local military personnel, veterans, and their families.

San Antonio-based Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Endeavors sponsored the group to San Antonio, and the Alamo Wing was the first stop the actors and the support team visited.

During their visit, the AITAF group toured a C-5M Super Galaxy and experienced virtual flying in a C-5 M simulator.

“We are deeply grateful to the team at the 433rd Airlift Wing for taking time to give our team an in-depth overview of their impressive scope of work and tremendous aircraft,” said Lindsay Miserandino, Arts in the Armed Forces executive director. “Touring a C-5 and experimenting in a flight simulator was an incredibly unique experience; one that left us all with a profound sense of appreciation and admiration for their service and sacrifice.”

The AITAF Team, including the staff from the Cohen Military Family Clinic, along with the 802nd Force Support Squadron’s Exceptional Family Member Program, JBSA-Lackland, were met by Col. Terry W. McClain, 433rd Airlift Wing commander, and Col. Scott Thompson, 502nd Installation Support Group commander, representing the 502nd Air Base Wing and Joint Base San Antonio.

“Being able to connect with the 433rd and seeing the enormous plane and hearing about the ways that the plane supports missions around the world was fantastic,” said Jill Palmer, DSW, LCSW, Cohen Military Family Clinic senior director, clinic operations. “During the tour, we were able to talk to the men and women who operate the plane, which allowed me, and I believe the whole group, to understand the commitment and dedication they have to their work.”

On June 29, San Antonio’s local military personnel, veterans, and their families, were treated to a reading of “True West,” a play written by American playwright Sam Shepard. The play is a character study that examines the relationship between Austin, a screenwriter, and his older brother Lee.

Artists L. Scott Caldwell, Chad L. Coleman, Chris Lowell, and Michael James Shaw performed the play at the Charline McCombs Empire Theatre in downtown San Antonio. At the end of their performance, the actors took questions from the audience, making it night to remember.

According to the AITAF’s website, Arts in the Armed Forces, Inc. is a non-profit based in Brooklyn, New York. Its mission brings high-quality arts programming to active-duty and Reserve service members, veterans, military support staff, and their families around the world free of charge. The Arts in the Armed Forces serve all branches of the military at U.S. installations domestically and abroad. They choose content that features diverse themes, ages, ethnicities, and experiences to create a complex and unique experience for our audiences. Actors Adam Driver and Joanne Tucker founded the organization in 2006.