OTHELLO - Othello and the chamber of commerce Monday expressed gratitude to Fairchild Air Force Base personnel for taking part in the city's Fourth of July events.

Othello Mayor Tim Wilson and chamber president Janelle Anderson presented Fairchild Air Force Base 92nd Medical Group Commander Col. Thomas Roshetko and his wife Karla with a banner signed by dozens of Othello residents.

"On behalf of the citizens of Othello and the city council we'd like to thank the Air Force for your involvement in our community the last few years," Wilson said.

Fairchild moved base operations to Moses Lake last year while runways and taxiways are rebuilt in Spokane.

"No matter where we go we're welcomed with care and love and it's greatly appreciated," said Roshetko, who was representing Fairchild's 92nd Air Refueling Wing commander Col. Paul Guemmer. "We do what we do to protect the ability of towns like this to do what they do, so it's one big full circle."

Anderson detailed the Air Force's recent role in the town's Fourth of July celebrations. Last year the base performed a helicopter flyover and this year the Fairchild Air Force Honor Guard led the city's parade after the entire parade route took part in the pledge of allegiance, Anderson said.

Fairchild's Air Force Honor Guard is about 25 airmen who take on the six-month assignment in addition to their regular duties, according to Roshetko.

"We consider it such an important part of our relationship with the community and honoring the tradition and the heritage of the military, we make sure the honor guard is prepped and ready to go all of the time," he said. "Some of these kids a year ago were wondering if they were going to prom and now here they are 1,000 miles away from their home and doing this for America. These are the young men and women who are going to lead into the next generation."

"I want you to know I start every prayer by thanking God for our freedom and our safety," Anderson told Roshetko.

She received praise from Wilson, who said the Chamber has done "a lot of hard work" in organizing the Fourth of July events over the past several years. Roshetko also presented a military coin to Anderson before outlining the central job of the Air Force.

"We are glad and honored to support the constitution of the United States because it's what makes America run," he said. "And there's no more symbolic picture of America than in Othello, Washington."