Award shows our potential

The irony of the Abilene Award being unveiled beneath the expanse of MidAmerica Airport’s main terminal escaped hardly anyone.

One jokester at the award presentation Wednesday said: “We have to clear this place. There’s a flight coming in tomorrow.”

It’s ironic only because the publicly-owned airport has caused so much policial rancor, yet the Abilene Award reflects the one thing everyone in the metro-east can agree on — we want, we need and we love Scott Air Force Base.

The Abilene Trophy is given annually to the community in Air Mobility Command’s universe that exhibits the greatest support of its local Air Force base. It was primarily through a collaborative regional effort, steared by the Leadership Council Southwestern Illinois, that the St. Louis region received the coveted award for the second time in three years.

“The other big thing... was the collaboration between all the different communites,” said Gray Bridwell, chairman of the Abilene Committee. “That was really great... Collinsville, Edwardsville, everybody was working together.”

We can all be proud of this recognition because it represents a great regional effort in support of our military neighbors at Scott Air Force Base.

From the Patriot Program, which provides free items and discounts to military personnel and veterans, to the sponsorship and passage of legislation that caters to students of military families, all was compiled into a thick, award-winning binder supporting our region’s worthiness of the Abilene Trophy.

It also serves as evidence of what can be achieved when our region works together.

This story was originally published July 19, 2015 at 2:00 PM with the headline "Award shows our potential."