RESIDENTS INVITED TO MAYOR’S COMMUNITY CONVERSATION
WITH LUKE AIR FORCE BASE PERSONNEL SEPTEMBER

GLENDALE, Ariz. – West Valley residents are invited to spend the evening with high-ranking Luke Air Force Base personnel at a special Community Conversations program hosted by Glendale Mayor Elaine Scruggs.

The free program will be held from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 8 at Thunderbird – The Garvin School of International Management, 15249 N. 59th Ave. The program will be held in the school’s AT&T Auditorium.

At the program, residents will learn more about the vital role Luke Air Force Base in Glendale plays in our national security and how citizens can help support troops at home and abroad.

Brigadier General (Sel.) Robin Rand, Luke’s top officer, will kick off the evening with an overview of Luke’s mission as the world’s largest F-16 jet fighter pilot training base.

Luke Col. Randy Meyer will share his personal, inside accounts of his recent deployment in Iraq and the day-to-day activities of soldiers serving our country. Command Chief Master Sgt. Scott Dearduff will discuss a new non-profit, volunteer-led initiative, called Operation Thunderbox, that sends basic “comfort items” to more than 300 Luke personnel deployed oversees.

Citizens attending the program are welcome to bring items to donate for the Operation Thunderbox initiative. According to Luke personnel, soldiers are in need of hygiene products, baby wipes, sun block, lip balm, non-perishable snacks (beef jerky, microwave popcorn) and batteries. Monetary donations will also be accepted to help cover the $30 per box postage for the holiday shipment that will be sent overseas in November. Checks should be made payable to “Operation Thunderbox.”