Living on an Air Force base requires you to become desensitized to a cacophony of sounds. Of course there is the ever-present roar of jets as they soar by – three different aircraft means three distinct sounds. Morning is, by far, the most raucous time of day when all of the engines are starting up at once and the aircraft line up for their turn on the runway. The rest of the day is a symphony of jet noise, but I find it goes largely unnoticed once you’re used to it.
Another din we’ve been introduced to is the far more clamorous on-base shooting range where security forces hone their skills. Perhaps I just haven’t noticed its use during the day, but the percussion-like thunder is more than obvious in the early morning and late night hours.
There is one melodious sound that occurs, literally, like clockwork three times a day. The reverberation of reveille, retreat, and lights out is like the toll of the dusty, old grandfather clock that keeps time in your home. At 7:00 a.m. sharp, the flag is raised and honored by the buoyant tune of reveille. At 17:00, the flag is retired for the day to the refrain of the Star Spangled Banner. During both of these occasions, those who are outdoors must stop what they’re doing and acknowledge the flag (military members in uniform must salute; civilians and members out of uniform stand at attention) and those who are driving on base must pull over and stop. I was somewhat unprepared for these ceremonies when I moved here, but I’ve come to think of them as 1) a good source of time keeping, and 2) a good reminder about why we’re here - C’s job will be to protect the freedom that our flag signifies and that makes me proud. The final ritual of the day is the playing of Taps at 21:00. The intended purpose is to signify the beginning of “lights out” or “quiet hours”, but I also think it’s a good time to remember those who have been lost or are missing. Personally, the song always reminds me of my veteran grandpa’s funeral and gives me a chance to think about him.
Your location on base determines exactly how much resonance you’re going to encounter. For example, the jet engines are much louder, of course, as we walk to preschool in the morning since we are walking towards the flight line. In our house, with the doors and windows closed, you can barely hear reveille and retreat unless you’re listening for it. But, the closer your home is to one of the loud-speakers, the more noticeable it becomes. Much like the “smell of jet fuel in the morning” (which is truer than I realized), the base’s daily chorus is just another feature to which I am becoming accustomed.
