Ceremony recognizes new NATO members

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Scott Wagers
  • Defense Media Activity-Ramstein
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany --  A flag ceremony marking the accession of Croatia and Albania as the 27th and 28th members of NATO was held April 8 at Allied Air Component Command Headquarters Ramstein.

Gen. Roger A. Brady, commander, U.S. Air Forces in Europe and NATO Allied Air Component Command at Ramstein officiated the ceremony with Deputy Commander Air Marshal David Walker; Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Jon Abma; and Senior Noncommissioned Officer Warrant Officer Tim van der Logt.

A six-member allied color guard detail composed of Belgian, Dutch, Polish, and U.S. Airmen hoisted the two flags to complete a formation of 28 flag poles that stand outside the Allied Air Component Headquarters building that was constructed in April 2005. 

The two Balkan states formally joined the alliance April 1 in Washington. The NATO Alliance began in 1949 with 12 states and has increased its membership to 28 countries through six rounds of enlargement. The last countries to gain acceptance as allied partners were Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia in December 2002.