Gate renamings bring base and community together

Published Dec. 3, 2015
By Airman 1st Class Kelsey Tucker
20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. - -- The 20th Civil Engineer Squadron held a small ceremony to change the names of the gates at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., Dec. 3.

Present for the ceremony were members of Shaw's leadership, along with representatives from the city of Sumter.

With names that hold navigational meaning for both residents and visitors, the gates become more accessible from both on and off base.

The three gates to have their name changed - East Gate, North Gate, and Rhodes Gate - will become the Sumter Gate, Frierson Gate, and 441 Gate respectively. Each name was chosen to coincide with the road it connects to off base, with the exception of the 'Sumter Gate'.

"The greater Sumter community should feel a sense of pride about their importance to and support of the military here in the South Carolina Midlands," said Col. John Thomas, 20th Mission Support Group commander. "And we hope permanently naming this the Sumter Gate properly recognizes how much this base appreciates them."

In addition, the newly dubbed 'Sumter Gate' is the closest to downtown Sumter and will make it easier to give directions or communicate a specific entry point to visitors, said Rob Sexton, 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs community relations manager.

Team Shaw prides itself on its strong sense of community. The renaming of the gates is yet another tie in an already strong bond with the Sumter community.