Academy makes wish come true

  • Published
  • By Ray Bowden
  • Academy Public Affairs
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. --  A 10-year-old Colorado girl became the Academy's newest cadet when she reported for duty Sept. 19.

Aubrey Aragon, from Colorado Springs, was welcomed into the Cadet Wing through the Make-a-Wish Foundation and the Academy's Cadet for a Day program, which the Academy hosts roughly four times a year.

"It was just an overwhelming event for her," said Aubrey's father, Maj. Rico Aragon, the Academy's safety director. "She couldn't believe all the events that were planned for her."
Aubrey's "in-processing" into Academy life began Sept. 19, but she was treated to a full weekend of activities Sept. 20-21, including breakfast at the airfield control tower with members of Cadet Squadron 13 -- her sponsoring cadets - a tour of the 94th and 98th Flying Training Squadrons, and the evening's Air Force football game, during which she kept the Wings of Blue parachute team on target during the opening ceremony landing by holding a wind flag while sitting in her wheelchair at Falcon Stadium.

Another highlight for Aubrey was meeting Academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. Michelle Johnson, who gave her a signed football helmet during halftime at the game, Aragon said.

Cadet 1st Class Glamis Koh was one of several cadets who helped organize Aubrey's Cadet for a Day schedule.

"My fellow cadets and I are honored to have been able to give Aubrey a special few days," he said. "It's humbling to see that what we do here at the Academy can have such a big impact on someone. When the Cadet Wing comes together for something like this, it's a wonderful feeling."

Just hearing Aubrey's laugh as cadets drove her around the Terrazzo in a golf cart made any effort to organize the event completely worth it, Koh said.

"It really meant a lot to her that so many people here put so much effort into making the event special -- we can't thank everyone enough," Aragon said. "She had the biggest smile on her face and still does. When we got home after the first day, Aubrey said 'dad, this was the best day ever.'"

Aubrey has been diagnosed with T-Cell Lymphoblastic Lymphoma. Some of her hobbies are football, drawing and following Star Wars.

The Cadet Wing has teamed with the Make-a-Wish Foundation with since 2001. Since then, graduates have taken this program across the Air Force.