Community support for KC-46A

Lt. Col. Paul Kell (left), Loren Selig, Gabi Selig, Zoe Selig, and Col. Peter Sullivan pose for a photo after a ceremony where Zoe read and presented Sullivan with a letter of support for Pease Air National Guard Base to receive the new Boeing KC-46A air refueling tanker, Feb 20, 2013. The letter was signed by 59 of the girls' friends at Moharimet Elementary School in Madbury, N.H. (National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Aaron Vezeau/Released)

Elementary students show support for basing KC-46A at Pease ANGB

Zoe Selig, an elementary student from Moharimet Elementary School in Madbury, N.H, reads a letter of support for basing the Boeing KC-46A air refueling tanker at Pease Air National Guard Base to Col. Peter Sullivan, 157th Air Refueling Wing Vice Commander, Pease Air National Guard Base, N.H., Feb 20, 2013. The letter was signed by 59 students. (National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Aaron P. Vezeau/Released)

Local children show support for KC-46

Published Feb. 21, 2013
By 1st Lt. Aaron McCarthy
157th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

PEASE ANGB, N.H. -- Two local Madbury children visited Pease Air National Guard Base to read a letter of support for basing the KC-46A refueling tanker here on February 20, 2013.

Zoe Selig, a second grade student at Moharimet Elementary School from Durham, N.H, read the letter of support to Col. Peter Sullivan, 157th Air Refueling Wing Vice Commander, along with her kindergarten sister, Gabi Selig, and mother, Loren Selig, in front of gathered members of the wing.

"I'd like to thank Zoe and Gabi for their effort in gaining community support for basing the new tanker here at Pease," said Sullivan, "which is a critical component, necessary to ensuring that it happens."

The letter, beginning, "Dear Air Force Commander and whoever else is in charge", lists reasons why basing the tanker here would be beneficial, was also signed by 59 schoolmates of the children.

"We think the new refueling planes [KC-46A] would be a good idea," said Zoe Selig, "because they pollute less and are less noisy than the planes the Air Force uses now... It will mean that our air will be a little better, and a little quieter, and that it will mean more jobs."

The girls heard about the potential for basing the new tankers at Pease from their father, Todd Selig, the town Administrator of Durham, N.H. They also attend school with children of members of the wing, including Lt. Col. Paul Kell, a pilot at Pease, whom the children call "Mr. Paul".

"The New Hampshire Air National Guard is imbedded within every community surrounding the base," said Sullivan, "having that support allows us to do what we do for the country, the state of New Hampshire and our local communities."

The children also knew about Pease from a base tour they received and from volunteering with their mother for the Pease Greeters, a group that welcomes returning deployed military members that are either from Pease or are traveling through the airfield on the way home.