DOBBINS AIR RESERVE BASE, Ga. -- Several members of Congress, including Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, relied on the Air Force Reserve for transportation support to attend the funeral of Rep. John Lewis at the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church in downtown Atlanta July 30.
Pelosi and others flew into Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Georgia, on two C-40C Clippers from the Reserve’s 932nd Airlift Wing, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, before being driven to Lewis’ service.
Dobbins leadership, including Brig. Gen. Thomas Grabowski, Georgia Air National Guard commander; Col. Craig McPike, 94th Airlift Wing commander; Col. Sharon Johnson, 22nd Air Force director of staff; and Chief Master Sgt. Vicki Robertson, 94th AW command chief, welcomed the Congressional members as they stepped off the two planes.
“I want to thank all of my wingmen at the 932nd for a great event here at Dobbins,” McPike said. “The two C-40s, aircrews and maintainers did an outstanding job delivering the members of Congress to Georgia. They were the utmost professionals, as always, and represented the 22nd Air Force and the Air Force Reserve with precise, on-time airlift for our distinguished visitors. I could not have been more proud.”
The day before the Congressional members arrived, an armed forces body bearer team carried the flag-draped casket of Lewis from an 89th Airlift Wing C-32 aircraft to a hearse parked on the flight line. The hearse then made its way to the state capitol, where the late representative lay in repose prior to the funeral service and internment.
“The flight carrying Congressional members to the funeral of Rep. John Lewis highlights what our Airmen do every day,” said Col. Glenn Collins, 932nd AW commander. “It is an entire team which supports these missions. I am humbled and proud to be a part of the 932nd Airlift Wing every day. The 932nd Airlift Wing was privileged to be part of our nation’s history honoring the life of Rep. John Lewis.”
Lewis served as a Georgia representative for three decades and had a lifelong commitment to the civil rights movement. #ReserveReady
(Thurman is assigned to the 94th Airlift Wing public affairs office.)