Air Force veteran to speak at program
RANDOLPH - Retired Air Force Lt. Col. John Meier of Pierce will be the featured speaker at the annual Memorial Day program in Randolph.
The program is set for 10 a.m., Monday, May 30, at Randolph High School.
Nearby Belden will have its annual Memorial Day dinner, serving from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Belden Fire Hall. The dinner of ham, cheesy potatoes, green beans, rolls, salad bar and desert bar will be available for a free-will donation with proceeds to benefit the Belden cemetery.
Meier graduated from Pierce High School in 1989. He attended the U.S. Air Force Academy, graduating in 1993 with a bachelor’s degree in economics.
He served in a variety of assignments during his 22-year Air Force career. He started by flying the T-37 and T-44 training aircraft. After reaching pilot wings, he flew the C-130E Hercules at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, and at Pope Air Force Base in North Carolina. Later, he was selected as an initial care member for the root of the C-130J Super Hercules at Littler Rock Air Force Base, Ark., where he trained crews to operate the new transport aircraft.
Following his tours as a tactical airlift pilot, Meier was selected for duty with the 89th Airlift Wing at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland. He flew the C-40 transporting our nation’s senior political and military leaders. His final assignment station was Ramstein Air Base, where he served as Chief Pilot of the 76th airlift squadron. As chief pilot, he was responsible for the training and development of 54 pilots.
Meier has logged more than 5,000 military flight hours and at the time of his retirement was the highest flight time C-40 pilot in the Air Force. He flew combat operations in Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq, Afghanistan and has 678 hours of combat time. He has received numerous awards and decorations that include three meritorious service medals, four air medals, and five aerial achievement medals.
Currently, Meier lives in Pierce with his wife, Michelle, and three children, Katrina, Abigail and Alex. He is a partner in a family farming operation and flies for Delta Airlines.
