While still a baby in comparison with its Navy and Army brethren, the US Air Force is now celebrating 62 years as an independent branch of the American armed forces.

The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, a Navy Admiral, delivered birthday greetings that recalled how

early Airmen leveraged cutting-edge technology to take the fight to our adversaries, protect America’s ground forces, and prevent conflict with precision and reliability.

In the face of an ongoing political battle over technology and the contribution of the Air Force to the current fight, it will be interesting to see how this legacy endures through future AF birthdays.

In a separate message, the General in charge of Air Mobility Command reminded his airmen of the sacrifice of both Air Force members and their families:

Our success does come at a price as evidenced by the many sacrifices of our Airmen and their families. While our people work long hours and endure time away from home, their families remain steadfast in providing unyielding support and care for our personnel as they make history every day…

Take time to remember the sacrifices that Airmen and their families have made to found the freedoms that we enjoy today. For that, I am honored and thankful to be among you wearing the Air Force uniform.

The US Air Force has made tremendous leaps in capability and contribution since the birth of heavier-than-air flight barely a century ago.  The future may hold even greater surprises.