Here's the story from the local newspaper.
I took pics but they were only so-so,Jake was there as well,so you guys talk nice to him he may post a few 
Quote:
181st Fighter Wing prepares for takeoff
F-16 Fighting Falcons conduct last training mission at Hulman Field
By Crystal Garcia
The Tribune-Star
TERRE HAUTE — Bittersweet.
That’s the word many members of the Indiana National Guard, 181st Fighter Wing used to describe Saturday as they watched the four remaining F-16 Falcons conduct their final training mission in the Wabash Valley.
“It’s really, on the very same day, it’s a lot like having a death in the family and a birth, it really is,” said Vice Commander Col. Chris Colbert, who was a pilot for one of the jets. “You know it’s going to go away sometime and today is the day. Well, that’s the finale, it’s almost like a death, but there’s a brand new birth, something that’s very exciting to do. But that’s how extreme it is.”
Various jets have been going in and out of Hulman Field airspace for 54 years.
Between 500 and 1,000 servicemen and servicewomen and families, past and present, stood by as the Falcons took off, flew overhead and landed.
People shielded their faces from the hot wind and debris that flew from the back of the jets as they prepared to take off; mothers began to put earplugs in their children’s ears; and people lined up to wave and take pictures as the jets moved down the runway. After takeoff, the four jets flew back in a V-shape before splitting up and flying back individually periodically before landing one by one. Pilots were greeted by fellow Guardsmen, family and bottles of champagne as they climbed out of the jets for the last time. Applause and cheers from the crowd came as the fourth pilot climbed out of his jet.
Although the day was filled with much emotion, Colbert, 46, said he could only think of one thing as he was taking his last flight — flying.
“You have to learn to compartmentalize and do things correctly,” he said. “It’s a very unforgiving business to be in, so really not until we get back on the ground and you’re about ready to shut the engine off for the last time do you think about any of the emotional things.”
Colbert, who has been with the Guard since 1984, plans to stay in Terre Haute to learn and help with the new missions ahead. Other pilots are moving so that they can continue to fly planes.
New missions for the Guard are to become an Air Support Operation Squadron and a Distributed Common Ground Station.
As an ASOS, they will work directly with ground commanders to provide aerial support. This is expected to provide 70 positions.
They will analyze real time video feed from Unmanned Aerial Vehicles to assist forward deployed troops to keep combat commanders well-informed through intelligence gathering and dissemination as a DCGS. This is expected to provide about 350 positions.
Jets were expected to begin departing Hulman Field this month, with the last jets to leave in December, according to a Air National Guard news release. It was initially thought that the jets would go to Fort Wayne, but they are now expected to move to Atlantic City, N.J.
“It is a historic day for all of us, but … in a way, we’ve got to be honest with ourselves, it’s a little sad to see those four jets come rolling in with Kip, Rock, Chris and our wing commander, Col. [Jeff] Hauser,” Maj. Gen. Marty Umbarger told the crowd, “but it’s also an exciting day for all of us. It’s exciting because we welcome the new challenge, an important development, an important mission for our Air Force, for our state and for our nation.”
Following his brief speech, Umbarger awarded Hauser with the Indiana Distinguished Service Medal for his service from June 2004 to March 2007 when he “contributed immeasurably to the superb reputation of the Indiana Air National Guard.”
Hauser, 46, of Beech Grove also described the day and its events as bittersweet.
“I love the airplanes, I love to watch the airplanes through the airport, our airplanes anytime we have the military come in,” he said, “but … also, I’m excited about the new missions, to get the technology going. It solidifies our existence here in the Terre Haute area for years to come in the future.”
Retired Chief Master Sgt. Preston Reedy, 58, of Terre Haute said something like this wouldn’t matter as much if Terre Haute wasn’t such a good community for the unit to be a part of. “Wherever we went in the world, a lot of folks, a lot of units didn’t get along with the community,” he said, “but Terre Haute’s always been 200 percent supportive of the Air National Guard in Terre Haute, always involved in our mission and they really cared about how we’re doing, what kind of airplanes we have.”
Reedy, who was with the Guard from 1969 to 2004, said the relationship was important because it made members of the unit feel secure to leave their families behind.
“That’s a big deal when you’re really far away doing things you don’t enjoy doing,” he said.
He worked in the maintenance squad room and was the first command chief master sergeant in the wing, which he served as from 1996 to 2000.
Of everything, Reedy said he misses the people the most because it’s like a big family.
“Like I always said, it’s a group hug in green,” he said.
The hardest part, he said was day like Saturday and “seeing it all go away.”
“People, how they feel about each other is never going to change,” Reedy said, “It’s just an occasion to get together will be few and far between, I think.”
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