SAN ANTONIO - (via KENS 5) Fiesta festivities coincided with a major milestone for more than 700 airmen at Lackland Air Force Base.
Friday's graduation also marked one week since a murder-suicide sent the entire base into a lockdown.
"It's very important to see the young people carry on what you spent your life doing," retired colonel Mike Connelly said.
Families stood by their side after completing two months of training, officially making them the country's newest airmen.
"To graduate, to see your family and loved ones come out, it means a lot to us," Lance Corporal Belasco said.
Before taking a step into the future, they bowed their heads, standing in front of a flag flying at half-mast. Their graduation marks one week since Lt. Col. William Schroeder, a training squadron commander, was killed in a murder-suicide in the Medina Annex.
"The show of love and support and understanding is phenomenal," Brigadier General Trent H. Edwards said.
Two hours after the graduation, a busy entrance to the base came to a standstill as around a thousand soldiers lined the streets to pay their respects as Colonel Schroeder's family and closest friends drove in for his memorial.
"We're rallying around that family and showing that love and support," General Edwards said. "And it's also been very difficult for those who knew him best."
Colonel Schroeder was a man dedicated to building up the future of the Air force by working with graduates just like the men and women that graduated on Friday.
They now starting their journey without him. But they'll never forget him.
