Steele Chapter Hosts Tribute to the Doolittle Raiders
April 21, 2025 | By Bob Hill
AFA’s D.W. Steele Sr. Chapter hosted a moving tribute to the Doolittle Raiders on Thursday, April 17, bringing together more than 75 AFA members, cadets, Air Force recruiters, and distinguished guests at Nighthawk Pizza, one of the chapter’s community partners in Arlington, Va.
Attendees included cadets from the Burke Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol; AFROTC detachments from the University of Maryland and Howard University; and representatives from the 317th Recruiting Squadron. The evening honored the courage, innovation, and sacrifice of the 80 Airmen who carried out the legendary Doolittle Raid on April 18, 1942.
Chapter President Lloyd Swede welcomed attendees, stating, “The Steele Chapter is proud to host this commemoration, marking a historic Air Force event and honoring the brave Airmen who flew that perilous mission 83 years ago.”
Col. Matt Coleman, USAF (Ret.), a Steele Chapter member and board member of the Doolittle Raiders Association, delivered the evening’s keynote remarks. He reflected on the extraordinary planning and execution of the mission and the immense risks involved in launching B-25 bombers from the deck of the USS Hornet.
“It is so important that we remember these brave heroes and the impact they had on the U.S. and taking the war to the enemy,” he said.
Coleman also shared a deeply personal connection to the Doolittle legacy, displaying the original wristwatch worn by then-Lt. Col. Jimmy Doolittle himself during the 1942 raid. He now wears it in remembrance—a tangible symbol of heritage and honor.
When it came to the toast itself, the attendees tuned in to AFA’s official Doolittle Raiders Memorial Toast, which was livestreamed nationwide and featured keynotes from Chief of Space Operations Gen. B. Chance Saltzman and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David W. Allvin. The evening concluded with the traditional Doolittle Raiders commemorative toast, led by Allvin, which echoed the same tradition followed by the surviving Raiders for decades.
The Steele Chapter was especially honored by the presence of former Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force JoAnne S. Bass, who joined the celebration alongside AFA national board members and staff.
“We are honored to have a renowned Air Force enlisted leader join us for this event,” said Swede. “It makes our tribute even more special.”
The evening served not only to remember the legacy of the Doolittle Raiders, but also to inspire a new generation of Airmen and Guardians. The Steele Chapter remains dedicated to preserving Air Force heritage and building bridges across generations of service.
