Fort D.A. Russell Days approaching fast Published June 16, 2011 By Staff Sgt. Mike Tryon 90th Missile Wing Public Affairs F. E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo. -- The Mighty Ninety has a strong tie to the Cheyenne community, and one of the ways the base gives back is by opening its gates to the public during Cheyenne Frontier Days. The three-day period -- Fort D.A. Russell Days -- allows the public, free of charge, to see Air Force Global Strike Command's mission here. This year, Warren will open its gates from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 22 and 24, and from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. July 23, to give the public a chance to see some of the historic structures as well as glimpses of the various missions Warren has been a part of throughout the years. "I was approached [to set up D.A. Russell Days] 17 years ago, because I had been attempting to have 'living history' camps displayed outside of the museum," said Paula Taylor, 90th Missile Wing museum director and founder of D.A. Russell Days. Re-enactors offer spectators a glimpse into the past, ranging from the 1880s through present day, she added. Attendees get the chance to view period re-enactments, lifestyles and displays during the three-day span. American Revolutionary battles will be re-enacted for the first time here, and there will also be a cowboy shootout hosted by the Wyoming Widowmaker group. The military-sponsored displays will include a fire truck from the 90th Civil Engineer Squadron, a military working dog demonstration and security forces vehicles from the 90th Security Forces Group and a helicopter from the 37th Helicopter Squadron. Military families will also open their homes for viewing as part of the Historic Homes Tour July 24. "There's a lot of history on this base, and for people to open their homes for thousands of people to walk through just enhances the experience," Mrs. Taylor said. Along with the Historic Homes Tours, base personnel will give guests an overview of the ICBM mission by offering tours of the base museum, the missile procedures trainer and Uniform-01, the base's launch facility training site. Tours will take place every half hour. While waiting for a tour, patrons are encouraged to walk around Centennial Lake to see the different displays, or they can grab a free drink from the sarsaparilla tent. For the first time last year, Mike Byrd, 90th MW historian, opened a sarsaparilla tent where he passed out free refreshments and offered patrons a place to get out of the heat. This year, he said he plans on continuing the sarsaparilla tent. Mr. Byrd said he also plans on providing history books about D.A. Russell and the base. "From muskets to missiles, D.A. Russell Days has something for everyone," Mrs. Taylor said. "I hope you come out and enjoy what Warren has to offer." For more information about D.A. Russell Days, call Mrs. Taylor at 773-2980.