From blacksmiths to ICBMs: Fort D.A. Russell Days has ‘em all Published July 30, 2010 By Staff Sgt. Mike Tryon 90th Missile Wing Public Affairs F.E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, WYO. -- July has been a busy month for Warren. It started with the 20th Air Force change of command, which rolled into the July 4 weekend. There has also been a leadership turnover on the base, with several squadrons and groups also having change-of-command ceremonies. This past weekend hasn't been the exception to the busy month. Fort D.A. Russell Days is the time of year when F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyo., a part of Air Force Global Strike Command, opens its gates to the public, giving them a chance to see some of the historic structures and showcases a time-line of the various missions Warren has had over the years. "When the Thunderbirds moved off-base 16 years ago, the military affairs committee talked to me about setting up an open house on base to coincide with the Thunderbirds show," said Paula Taylor, 90th Missile Wing museum director. "They approached me because the year prior, I had been attempting to have 'living history' camps outside the museum." The reason this event coincides with Cheyenne Frontier Days is because that's when there is the largest population in the city, and it allows the military the best opportunity to show Warren's mission, she added. "The mission here is done so well, no one really knows what we do," said Mrs. Taylor. "This is an opportunity to help the public understand what an ICBM is, what our deterrence mission is, and that's nothing to be frightened of. "The military is protecting us with those ICBMs, and that's really important in this day-in-age," she added. Every year, volunteer re-enactors from across the United States come to this three-day event to perform mock battles and the ways-of-life from the 1880s to present day. The re-enactors range from 1880s style blacksmiths and military members ranging from American Revolutionaries up to present day. "It's important for people to visit every year," Mrs. Taylor said. "Because, you never know what you're going to see." About 10 years ago, a formation of 76 Indian Army Cavalry members rode on their horses down the street, she added. They took up three blocks in the parade. "A spectacle like that hasn't been seen in this area since the last horse left in the '40s," Mrs. Taylor said. This year is the first time a sarsaparilla tent was set up. The sarsaparilla tent offered visitors refuge from the heat and also served as an emergency tent. Beverages such as sarsaparilla [root beer], lemonade and water were found there free-of-charge. Some of the other events taking place during D.A. Russell Days included displays from the fire department, the 37th Helicopter Squadron, and demonstrations of the military working dogs. Some of Warren's spouses opened up their homes for the Historic Homes Tours, said Mrs. Taylor. "To have the family members open their homes for the public to walk through and to get a glimpse of the 1880s and 1890s construction is a real treat," said Mrs. Taylor. "I find it odd that we're the oldest sustained Air Force base today and we have all of these historic structures on base, but we do one of the most modern missions available today." An estimated 16,000 people have visited during this annual three-day event, she added. Sundays have traditionally been the busiest day. "It's really important this is open to the general public and [that] we work so closely with Cheyenne," said Mrs. Taylor. "I can't state that enough. We are very lucky to have such a close relationship to our sister city. "Cheyenne couldn't survive without us, and we couldn't survive without Cheyenne," she added.