Stacey Tinsley, Bossier Press-Tribune
Members of the Bossier City Lions Club turned their focus to history and remembrance this week as they welcomed Lane Callaway, historian with the Eighth Air Force and Joint Global Strike Operations Center, as their guest speaker during the club’s weekly luncheon.
Callaway spoke about Barksdale Air Force Base’s critical role on Sept. 11, 2001, a day that reshaped the nation’s sense of security and military readiness. He detailed how the base, home of Air Force Global Strike Command and the 2nd Bomb Wing, became a key command hub in the hours following the terrorist attacks.
On the morning of 9/11, Barksdale was thrust into the spotlight when President George W. Bush was flown there aboard Air Force One after leaving Florida. The base provided a secure location for the president to address the nation for the first time after the attacks. Surrounded by B-52 bombers and with heightened security, Bush declared that “freedom itself was under attack,” a message broadcast worldwide from Barksdale’s grounds.
Beyond hosting the commander-in-chief, Barksdale also coordinated rapid military readiness through Eighth Air Force, which commands long-range strike capabilities. The base ensured that U.S. strategic bombers and airmen were prepared to respond to any further threats.
Callaway emphasized how the men and women stationed at Barksdale demonstrated composure, discipline, and professionalism during a moment of national crisis. “What they accomplished that day was a testament to the strength and training of our Air Force community here in Bossier,” he said.
The Lions Club members expressed appreciation for the presentation, which connected the community’s long-standing ties to the base with a defining moment in national history.
The luncheon concluded with reflections not only on Barksdale’s past but also on its ongoing mission as part of Air Force Global Strike Command, which continues to oversee the nation’s nuclear-capable bomber fleet.