C-130 News: 179th dedicates C-130, "Spirit of Galion"

[casey]

MANSFIELD, Ohio -- Community pride was on display Thursday during the 179th Airlift Wing's dedication ceremony that paid tribute to the City of Galion.

The local unit of the Ohio Air National Guard invited members of the Galion community to see the new "Spirit of Galion" emblem painted above the aircrew door of a C-130 Hercules.

All eight of the 179th's C-130s have been dedicated to a local community, including Ashland, Clear Fork Valley (representing Bellville and Butler), Crestline, Galion, Lexington, Mansfield, Ontario and Shelby.

Lt. Col. Patty Barr, the Maintenance Group Deputy Commander, said the dedications are meant to show the unit's appreciation of the communities' support.

Communities were selected based on "where we've drawn our members from," Barr said. "And Galion was one of the areas where we've drawn a lot of members to support the wing."

"The 179th is extremely honored to present the cities that house our airmen with this token of appreciation," said Wing Commander Col. Gary McCue in a press release. "As our aircraft will travel the world, the citizens of those towns can be assured that the 179th will represent them well while we work to keep our nation safe."

Barr introduced Staff Sgt. Eric Cook, one of the crew chiefs for the Spirit of Galion C-130.

Cook stated, "It's a privilege to be able to come here every day and maintain this aircraft and have a job you can really take a lot of pride in."

Galion Mayor Tom O'Leary also spoke at the ceremony, calling the unit a "regional asset for the community."

"It's nice to have city officials and former Air Guard folks, as well as [employees of Galion Schools] here to represent how important it is to us as institutions of Galion," he said.

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