Whiteman Airman helps make Twilight Tattoo an event to remember

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Susan Moreno
  • 11th Wing Public Affairs
A Whiteman Airman helped make the Twilight Tattoo ceremonial engagement memorable for many in attendance at the Bolling AFB Ceremonial Lawn June 13.

Capt. James Hayes III, a B-2 pilot, flew over the Twilight Tattoo, although his roots are actually in Virginia, where he graduated from West Springfield High School as the valedictorian of his class.

Twilight Tattoo is a time-honored tradition that blends the precision and discipline of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) with the orchestral sounds of The U.S. Army Band "Pershing's Own."

Captain Hayes' father, James Hayes Jr., and his mother, Terri, attended the engagement.

"We're very excited to be here," said Colonel Hayes. "When he called and told us he was going to be doing the fly-over for this evening's tattoo, we knew we had to be here."

Captain Hayes recently returned from a deployment to Andersen AFB, Guam, and has also deployed to Qatar.

Captain Hayes is not the only member of his family who has served in the military. The Hayes family heritage is steeped in military history; Captain Hayes' father is a retired Army lieutenant colonel and his mother served in the Army as a quarter master officer.

Captain Hayes' paternal grandfather graduated from West Point in 1942, his father in 1973 and he graduated from the Air Force Academy in 2002 in the top 10 percent of his class.

His grandmother, who served as a Women's Airforce Service Pilot in 1944, pinned Captain Hayes' wings on in 2004.

"That was the first and, as far as I know, the only time anyone's grandmother has pinned on their wings," said Mrs. Hayes.

His brother, Colin, is a Marine special forces sergeant with two Purple Hearts who is currently training for explosive ordinance disposal.

The Hayes family has lived in Springfield, Va., for nearly 20 years.

"Our family tradition is service to our nation," said Mr. Hayes.