U.S. AIR FORCE

The Global Positioning Systems Wing Space and Missile Systems Center cordially invited us to a ceremony in honor of

Varetta M. Thomas [Management Assistant]

on the occasion of her retirement from The United States Federal Government on Thursday, the twenty-sixth of June two thousand and eight at ten o'clock in morning.

It was held at The Gordon Conference Center in the Los Angeles Air Force Base.

Colonel John Amstrong, USAF Retired officiated.

Captain Dawn Heffelfinger narrated.

Varetta was the Management Assistant to the Director of Contracts, Global Positioning Systems Wing, providing support to Procuring Contracting Officers and Contract Specialists to accomplish pre-award and post award functions for highly complex, high monetary value, long-term acquistions for major weapons systems of high visibility and crucial to the Department of Defense.

A poem written by her Grandson, Edward Gibson IV:

"Retirement is an Accomplishment."

Success

Success is a grand peak to obtain.

Success is not escaping problems but facing them creatively.

Success is not necessarily reaching your goal-but reaching the maximum possibilites in light of opportunites that come your way.

Success is made by hard work that is created and builds character, that unlocks doors for more opportunities.

Success is to never settle for less and believe all obstaceles are complete.

Success is started off by the caring of one to focus and do their best.

Success would not occur if one gave up hope and hid from the challenge.

Caring enough to accept the challenge shows how indomitable one is.

To just think of retirement as a great ending that had a rocky beginning-but the start of a new relaxing life with more obstacles to overcome.

What is success?

The key to success is to be hard working, caring, and being indomitable.

Varetta Thomas is the essence to the word success

{He's 17. I'm so proud of him!}

There was a luncheon immediately following the ceremony at the Salt Creek Grille in the El Segundo plaza in which we consumed a GRILLED CHICKEN BLT: fresh chicken, smoked bacon, lettuce, tomato, cheddar cheese & chipotle mayo; Served with garlic fries. YUMMAY.