Command chaplain speaks at National Prayer Breakfast

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Robert Barnett
  • 35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan --  Misawa Airmen received inspirational and morale-building words during a National Prayer Breakfast here Feb. 21.

The guest speaker for this year's prayer breakfast was Col. Richard Hartwell, the PACAF command chaplain.

According to Colonel Hartwell, the National Prayer Breakfast is "intended to gather people from all over the base together to spend a few moments to recognize that we can have the privilege to pray in freedom."

Prayer breakfasts have been taking place annually for 66 years. The first one was hosted by the United States Senate and House of Representatives in 1942.

This year's event served as a tribute to the wide diversity of people participating. Attendees were treated to a performance by a choir composed of military members. Some of the military members wore their choir robes over their battle dress uniforms, and the appearance of combat boots was proudly noticed by the PACAF chaplain. The choir was accompanied by pastor Patrick Sledge from a local church on piano and his young son Patrick Sledge junior on drums.

"My message to airmen," said Colonel Hartwell, "is that I hope they have the ability to live and enjoy life -- that they will enjoy love, experience joy and peace, knowing that they belong to someone that loves them."

He received a standing applause for his message, which was intended to enhance the lives of everyone.

"The ability to live and thrive is a gift from God ... by the face of God you and I live and breathe every day," the chaplain said in his message.

Colonel Hartwell decided to become a chaplain while growing up in Washington, D.C. He visited a wax museum when he was 12 years old, and was inspired by the statues of four chaplains.

The four chaplains of differing denominations are known for serving on a vessel that took heavy fire and was sinking on Feb. 3, 1943. The chaplains gave their life vests to four Airmen, saving the Airmen's lives, and went down with the ship, according to Capt. Ralph Elliot from the base chapel.

Colonel Hartwell has been serving as a chaplain for nearly 27 years in California, New York, Germany, and Turkey. He is currently stationed at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, working for Gen. Howie Chandler, PACAF commander, as an adviser and providing "the best possible chaplain services teams to Airmen," he said.

The Command Chaplain concluded his message with, "As you go back to work here in Misawa, look for the face of God in everyone you work with and everything you do...bless you."