JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md., –
Among the thousands of attendees at the 2010 Joint Service Open House, held here May 14 through 16, is a 9-year-old girl who has traveled from South Florida simply to say thanks.
Wearing an Air Force lanyard and a military flight cap, Rizzy Wieser stands before a former Navy combat cameraman with a special golden challenge coin in her hand. Challenge coins, like the one Rizzy has, are a symbol in the military for recognition, or in her case, appreciation.
Bringing herself to the position of attention, Rizzy renders a salute and gives the coin to the veteran. She follows her salute with the simple words, "thank you for being my Soldier."
"As a combat photographer, I've never had an experience like that. It was hard for me not to cry," said Chet Falkenhainer, a crewman and public relations naval liaison for the West Texas wing of the Commemorative Air Force. The CAF was here with their static display of the Curtiss SB2C-5 Helldiver, a World War II era Navy bomber.
"After she recognized me, I put her in the cockpit of the plane - We had to do something special," Mr. Falkenhainer said. He first met Rizzy earlier this year at the Sun 'n Fun Airshow held at the Lakeland Linder Regional Airport in Lakeland, Fla.
Bill Wieser, Rizzy's father and retired school teacher, said he and his daughter have been traveling the country for the past three years saluting members of the Armed Forces.
"This is the first year she's been handing out the coin. We wanted to do more to salute the Soldiers and heard about the challenge coin," Mr. Wieser said.
To get the coin produced, Mr.Weiser sketched a stick figure of his daughter holding an American flag and included text for the front and back of the coin. He gave the material to an artist who developed the coins.
The front of the coin says "Thank you for being my Soldier." and on the back is the sketch Mr. Wieser drew with the words, "I salute you. Miss Rizzy W. U.S. citizen by birth. Born 2001."
With coins tucked away in a pouch, Rizzy and Mr. Wieser walk the flightline at JSOH, May 16, saluting and handing the coins out to servicemembers, thanking them for protecting her freedom. She even caught a member of the Army Golden Knights Parachute Demonstration Team just as he landed after a performance.
Including their visit to JSOH this year and the Sun n' Fun Airshow in Lakeland, Rizzy and her father plan to attend at least one event a month throughout the airshow season.
"It's my job to teach Rizzy about our wonderful country and the sacrifices made by the men and women of the Armed Forces," Mr. Wieser said. "She's going to have enough experience to make important career decisions down the road."
As the young patriot and her father leave to salute more servicemembers and give them coins, Mr. Wieser commented on one thing they weren't prepared for at Department of Defense's largest open house..."I wish I brought more coins with me," Mr. Wieser said.
Editor's note: At the close of JSOH 2010, Rizzy was invited by the 316th Wing commander, Col. Steven Shepro, to stand in front of the blue and yellow-painted F/A-18 Hornets and coin the pilots of the U.S. Navy's Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels.
One pilot in particular, Marine Capt. Edward Jorge, was very touched by the gesture and awarded Rizzy with a very special Navy Blue Angels' coin.