Interment of our first Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Published June 1, 2009 By Command Chief Master Sgt. Richard T. Small Air Force Space Command PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- Fellow Airmen, yesterday I attended the interment of our first CMSAF, Paul Wesley Airey, at Arlington. There's never been a day I've been more proud to be an American Airman. The chapel was filled with family, senior AF leaders (current and former CMSAFs, SECAF, CSAF), and many Airmen--active duty, Guard, Reserve and retired. CMSAF McKinley's heart-felt eulogy and the video tribute to CMSAF Airey painted a vivid picture of life-long service to country and family. It was a fitting memorial to a great leader, SNCO, and Airman. As we stepped from the chapel, the street was lined with his flag-draped coffin atop a horse-drawn caisson led by the Old Guard and followed immediately by the US Air Force Band and Honor Guard. It was an impressive sight. From General Officers to Chief Master Sergeants and Captains to Airmen First Class....the street was awash in beautiful Air Force blue. I, along with so many others, fell in and followed the procession for the better part of a mile slowly winding along the tree-lined streets amid some of our nation's most hallowed ground. I couldn't help but take notice of row upon row of gravestones...laid out in absolute precision, order and uniformity...the disciplined professionalism that is the hallmark of our Armed Forces depicted even in our national military cemeteries. The procession slowly came to a stop at the bottom of a hill in the shade of several great oak trees...the Air Force Memorial a distant glance away. As the band and honor guard formed up I noted a large assembly of Airmen on the slope of the hilltop above the gravesite...there to pay their respects to the Chief. They were impeccably aligned...with a diamond-wearing CMSgt out front--a reminder of CMSAF Airey's long service as a First Sergeant. A few words were spoken....the firing party released three volleys of gunfire...a B-52 passed powerfully yet gracefully overhead...and Taps was played. The honor guard folded the flag and CMSAF McKinley presented it to the family...and we slowly began to file away. As I walked toward the waiting bus it became clear to me he was laid to rest in good company. Resting in a peaceful valley under the shade of a great oak in the lush fields of Arlington, our first CMSAF is flanked by Soldiers, Sailors, and Airmen...all of whom--like him--offered their selfless service to the nation. The legacy of CMSAF Paul Wesley Airey lives on. It lives on in each of us and in every Airman--enlisted and officer, commissioned and noncommissioned--who serves today...and it will live on through those who follow in our footsteps. May our enlisted Airmen who so proudly wear the chevrons of the United States Air Force always strive to follow his example and embody his words which are immortalized on our Air Force Memorial: "When I think of the enlisted force, I see dedication, determination, loyalty and valor." Amen Chief, Amen.