Mountain Home, Idaho is home to the Mountain Home Air Force Base and the 366th Fighter Wing. Approximately 3,500 people live on the base, the major employer in the small town approximately 50 miles east of Boise, Idaho.Mountain Home Air Force Base, an Air Combat Command installation, opened in 1943 as a bomber training base, and has served as an operational SAC bomber and missile base and TAC and fighters before becoming an ACC in 1993.
Since 1961, the community has honored the installation with Air Force Appreciation Day. Taking place on the Friday and Saturday after Labor Day, the event includes a fun run and social with refreshments and entertainment on Frinday. One of the largest parades in Idaho takes place on Saturday, with complimentary barbecue and corn on the cob served to more than 5,000 guests.
The Optimist Club of Mountain Home gets involved with the festivities every year as the Optimist Cheer Squads take to the streets for the parade and entertainment. Proud mom Kelly Buchanan shared the above picture with me of Optimist Cheerleader Scotlyn.
The Mountain Optimist Club Cheerleading program is one of the most active in southwestern Idaho as they cheer for football and basketball, host clinics and camps, and participate in parades and other patriotic activities such as 9/11 memorial services held in the Boise Valley.
Optimist Clubs are known to bring out the best in kids and many clubs are involved in sports, keeping kids healthy and teaching good sportsmanship. Another purpose of an Optimist Club is to promote patriotism and an active interest in good government. It sure looks like the Mountain Home Optimists are fulfilling their roles to bring up healthy, good citizens. Keep up the great work!
