Ability One celebrates service

By Airman 1st Class Jonathan Bass, 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs / Published July 25, 2014

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U.S. Air Force Col. Stephen Jost, 20th Fighter Wing commander, delivers opening remarks at the Ability One employee appreciation picnic at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., July 25, 2014. Jost gave his thanks to the employees for their dedication and their work taking care of the Airmen on Shaw. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jonathan Bass/Released)

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U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Tameka Taylor, 20th Contracting Squadron superintendent, serves potato salad to an attendee of the Ability One employee appreciation picnic at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., July 25, 2014. The 20th CONS hosted the picnic, which recognizes all the hard work of the Ability One employees. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jonathan Bass/Released)

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U.S. Air Force Col. Stephen Jost, 20th Fighter Wing commander, receives an American flag from Dave Theimer, Source America assistant vice president of marketing before the Ability One employee appreciation picnic at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., July 25, 2014. SourceAmerica is the company that runs the Ability One program. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jonathan Bass/Released)

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U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Aaron Trammell, 20th Contracting Squadron contracting administrator, speaks to attendees of the Ability One employee appreciation picnic at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., July 25, 2014. Trammell took time to greet and thank as many employees as he could before the picnic started. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jonathan Bass/Released)

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U.S. Air Force Col. Stephen Jost, 20th Fighter Wing commander, speaks to two attendees of the Ability One employee appreciation picnic at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., July 25, 2014. Jost went around before lunch was served to speak to many employees of the Ability One program and thank them for taking care of his Airmen. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jonathan Bass/Released)

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The Shaw Air Force Base Honor Guard presents the colors at the Ability One employee appreciation picnic at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., July 25, 2014. The guest speaker of the event was Brig. Gen. Casey Blake, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition deputy assistant secretary for contracting. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jonathan Bass/Released)

SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- The 20th Contracting Squadron hosted the 15th annual Ability One employee appreciation picnic here, July 25.

The picnic featured a ceremony which recognized disabled employees on base, said Tech. Sgt. Franklin Mahan, 20th CONS contracting officers.

The ceremony is an Air Force level recognition to honor and recognize the disabled employees on base that make the mission possible, said Mahan.

In addition to the ceremony, lunch was served and a social was held.

Col. Stephen Jost, 20th Fighter Wing commander, was the event's host. He spoke of the importance of such events saying, "I'm glad my predecessors started this experience, I'm honored to be a part of it and continue to recognize those worthy individuals."

The picnic was open to all Ability One employees and their coworkers.

Also in attendance was Brig. Gen. Casey Blake, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition deputy assistant secretary for contracting, and retired Maj. Gen. William Holland, Shaw-Sumter Partnership for Progress executive director.

Ability One employees work everywhere on base, from the Chief Master Sgt. Emerson E. Williams Dining Facility, the base landscapers, the mail service and to the Commissary.