Duke Field top Airman honored at military salute

  • Published
  • By Dan Neely
  • 919th Special Operations Wing Public Affairs
DUKE FIELD, Fla. --  One of Duke Field's top performers represented the 919th Special Operations Wing at a local community salute to the military Aug. 20.

Senior Airman Randi Ferebee, a 919th Mission Support Flight personnelist and the wing's 2008 Airman of the Year, stepped into the spotlight at Harborwalk Village's final Red, White and Blue Celebration of the year on Destin Harbor.

The organizers honor selected local military standouts in the celebrations held weekly during the summer. According to Harborwalk Village officials, the event celebrates the efforts of people who go above and beyond to make their community better.

Airman Ferebee was accompanied by her husband, Staff Sgt. Cravadius Ferebee, an active duty member assigned to Hurlburt Field, as well as wing leadership representatives Lt. Col. Patricia Brewer, 919th Support Group deputy commander, and Capt. Jon Connerton, 919th MSF commander.

Proudly standing before a mixed audience of nearly 300 wing, local community and tourist well-wishers, Airman Ferebee was presented a key to the city of Destin by Mayor Craig Barker, as well as a gift bag from event sponsors. Mayor Barker also read aloud a lengthy list of the honoree's military achievements and career highlights, including wartime deployments that drew a hearty applause from the audience.

Airman Ferebee, who works in the 919th MSF career enhancement office, enlisted in the Reserve back in 2005. She has deployment experience as a veteran of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.

Moments before the ceremony, the Duke Field Airman was interviewed by local radio station 105.5-FM "The Wolf" about her military career and motivations for becoming an Air Force reservist. The interview was later broadcast over the station's airwaves as well as the Harborwalk Village public address system.

During the interview, Airman Ferebee was asked what motivated her to join the military.

"A lot of things made me want to join," she responded. "Mainly for the educational benefits, plus my parents were in the military, so of course I wanted to make them proud."

When asked what she enjoys most about her Air Force Reserve job, Airman Ferebee summed it up with a single word: "People," she said with a broad smile. "I love working and being around the people I work with, and I love entertaining them and meeting all the new people who come into the office."

Finally she was asked what her family thought about her selected role as the event's honoree.

"They are just so happy," she replied. "The just look at me and smile ... especially my mom," whom Airman Ferebee identified as "my biggest hero ever. She just keeps saying, 'My baby!'"