90th MW Airmen: Proud, persistent, patriotic Published Jan. 28, 2010 By Chief Master Sgt. Michael Zirkle 90th Missile Wing command chief F.E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo. -- I was watching the NFL championship playoff games this weekend and was really moved at the beginning of the AFC championship game when a United States flag was spread out over the field. It was large enough to cover the entire playing field from sideline to sideline and end zone to end zone. The stars and stripes were huge and impressive. What was more impressive was when an American bald eagle was freed, expanded it wings and soared around the stadium in all its grace and glory. It hit a soft spot inside me that made me stand up and hold my hand over my heart during the playing of the national anthem. I know I didn't have to do it and it may have been corny, but something compelled me to do it. Maybe it was pride; maybe it was patriotism. Patriotism is an interesting thing. The word has been used in a variety of ways throughout our nation's history. Webster defines it as, one who loves, supports and defends one's country. That simple statement says a lot. General George Washington and his revolutionary army were called patriots, but they were also called a freedom fighters and outlaws. I know when you think of patriots you picture Mel Gibson running across a battlefield waiving a flag, but there are hundreds of patriots defending our country daily right here in the Mighty Ninety. From the security forces Airmen who stand guard on base and in the missile complex, to the maintenance technicians who ensure the weapon systems stay on alert in all weather conditions, to the hundreds of other folks that keep the wing and base running, every single one of them is a patriot. They wouldn't keep doing it if they weren't. I was once told that one-half of one percent of the United States citizens step up and join the Air Force. This means only 330,000 Americans have the privilege to serve as an Air Force patriot. Take a moment to stop and think about your service to America. This nation was built on political policies that are enforced because we have the world's most powerful deterrence weapon system as a backstop. We enjoy the freedoms we have today because for more than 55 years, patriots have been standing tall at the 90th, 91st and 341st Missile Wings. I got a chance to meet the patriots of the 90th Maintenance Group this week. Our tour took us through all the shops that maintain a weapon system that was designed, developed and housed in facilities that are older than almost all of us. They were built with slide rules and manually targeted using alignment with the stars, but the men and women of the 90 MXG keep them on alert 24/7. I always wondered what all those acronyms they use meant; MMT, HMT, EMT, MAPS, etc. I am still a little fuzzy on all their shop names, but now I have a clearer understanding of what they do. It was amazing to see three young staff sergeants chase down circuit board faults and isolate failures; they told me they are "spark chasers." What great patriots they are for doing that tedious job to defend their country. We all need to hold our head a little higher and puff out our chest a little more when we hear the National Anthem playing. We are the one-half of one percent who stepped up when our nation called. We are true patriots.