Amber Bartelt believes she has a responsibility to raise Air Force, civic and environmental awareness. Photo: William Whited, NewsNetNebraska
Amber Bartelt tries to follow these mottos as the Region 8 president of Nebraska's Silver Wings, a civilian-based club fueled by volunteers committed to community service and a sister organization of the Arnold Air Society.
Founded at the University of Nebraska-Omaha in 1952, Silver Wings was formerly known as Angel Flight, a club led by Air Force servicewomen.
"We not only support the Air Force but help out to support the whole community," said Bartelt, a 22-year-old senior biology major at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. "We each have a responsibility to the community and to the people living in the community to raise Air Force, civic and environmental awareness."
Today the club organizes volunteers to provide motivational future career speeches at elementary schools, trash removal for an adopted two-mile section of Highway 34, promotion of Habitat for Humanity and other activities. The club often collaborates with UNL student organizations such as the Association of Students of the University of Nebraska and Big Event, a UNL club that assisted 70 agencies with more than 1,700 volunteers last year.
Samantha Viola, Silver Wings' activities officer, said she joined after her best friend's sister encouraged her to sign up.
"I wanted to learn more about the Air Force from the civilians' point of view and compare it to the Air Force view," Viola said. "I wanted to examine the attitudes between civilians and service personnel. Silver Wings taught me common responsibility, leadership skills and networking opportunities."
Members are now preparing for the Silver Wings annual national meeting to be held Oct. 30-31 in Laramie, Wyo. Last year local Silver Wings members hosted a dance marathon, made Valentine's Day cards for veterans, did a cancer walk with the American Cancer Society and removed trash after the Star City Parade. Teaming with Big Event and ASUN, the club built a wheelchair-accessible house for a new family in Lincoln. Club members recently held a candlelight vigil to honor fallen servicemen and servicewomen, a 24-hour event lead by two ROTC officers. One officer in the ceremony stood guard over another locked in a cage in front of the student union fountain.
"We have a chance to give back to the community without feeling like we're here to just party," Bartelt said.
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