Military Ball gets brass and locals out and about

Gen. Bruce Carlson makes a move to leave the stage.

Darlin' Debra Cordell, wife of Senior Airman Michael Cordell, snaps a photo of a Strolling String.

Power crowd: Shreveport Mayor Cedric Glover, Horseshoe exec Helen Black, Glover's wife, Veronica, Adele Walker and hubby Bossier City Mayor Lo Walker.

Here we are being serenaded by a member of the Strolling Strings, who move around the floor. Senior Airman Michael Cordell is right behind me.


Photos by Paul L. Schuetze/The Times

Holiday in Dixie Military Ball.

Paul and I were part of a sold out crowd of over 500 at this spectacular event Saturday at Horseshoe Riverdome — held there to accommodate a larger crowd. Locals clamor for tickets to this event.

U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen Bob Elder, head of the 8th U.S. Air Force, played drums with the 531st Air Force Band Texas Air National Guard Band of the Gulf Coast.

The Strolling Strings from Bolling Air Force Base surrounded us with sound on the party floor.
Shreveport Mayor Cedric Glover and Bossier City Mayor Lo Walker held court.

Four Star Gen. Bruce Carlson, formerly based here as head of the 8th U.S. Air Force, was seeing and being seen. He is now based at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, where he is commander of Air Force Materiel Command.

Gale Odom delivered a stirring rendition of "Star Spangled Banner."

Attorney/Ball chair John Odom starred as master of ceremonies.

There was playing of all the service songs, parade of guidons or company pennants and commanders.

And, there was dancin’ the night away until the midnight hour.

And there was dinner. The menu ranged from cold and hot selections to desserts. Let’s see, there was pasta salad; broccoli, bell peppers, red onions. olives pepperoncini tossed in fresh herb/garlic vinaigrette; beef stroganoff; buttered wide noddles; and, my fave, baked salmon with lemon/thyme beurre blanc. Desserts included: chocolate meringue pie and white chocolate mousse tarts with mixed berries.

Ah, it was festive and patriotic and a lot of fun.

Or as A-lister Linda Biernacki put it, "This is a great party. BAFB does put on a party. I never miss a Barksdale event."

The 2008 Holiday in Dixie Cotillion King Dr. Charles Sale was there with wife Katherine, and so were: Robert and Kim Poindexter, Murray and Pat Viser, Col. Robert Wheeler and wife Rachel, Lt. Quincy Rhinehart and Tamika Davis, Elder’s wife, Bess, who works the crowd with aplomb.
Centenary College Prez Ken Schwab was mixing and mingling and so were Tech. Sgt. Andrenow Dunklin, Tech Sgt. Presha Zarcariaous, Tem and Maggie McElroy, Col. Mike and Elaine Shoults, Richard and Linda Biernacki. Senior Airman April Schlichtenmyer and Master Sgt. Tina Martinez.

Check out the photos above and more on Military Ball gallery on www.shreveporttimes.com.