Scott AFB, Alton VFW present ‘Badge of Courage’to 6-year-old Hayden Brown
Bellville News-Democrat, Scott AFB News, 26 Aug 2016

Senior Airman Sheldon Timmermeyer, 375th Security Forces Squadron, got the day started with his new friend Hayden who helped provide the police escort to their first destination of the day. Timmermeyer also helped to coordinate volunteers who played Batman and Joker for the event scenario for which Hayden helped the Airmen to track down. Photo by Senior Airman Megan Friedl

By Senior Airman Megan Friedl, 375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

Little 6-year-old Hayden Brown doesn’t get to do what most children his age do because of a rare terminal degenerative disease called Metachromatic Leukodystrophy, commonly referred to as MLD. This condition makes it difficult for him to eat, walk, talk and even show facial expressions.

In recent months, there’s been a rapid decline in Hayden’s health, so in a race to beat the effects of MLD, his father, Jonathan, began working to provide him with as many wonderful childhood memories as he possibly can. They’ve come up with a bucket list of activities, and friends and family are rallying to help Hayden do simple pleasures of life like go camping or ride in a race car.

Recently, Jonathan reached out to Alton’s VFW Post 1308 when he heard about an award they give to children called the “Badge of Courage.” Created by Wayne Able and William Perkins, the Badge of Courage is a way to honor children who show courage and determination through an illness, and they’ve presented medals to numerous children in hospital rooms for the past few years.

The VFW reached out to the Airmen of the 375th Air Mobility Wing to see if they could assist in creating a special event for Hayden, which resulted in developing a “Pilot for a Day” program that included a formal presentation of the medal to him.

“When we heard about this opportunity, we were really excited about supporting this,” said Maj. Geoffrey Ashby, 458th Airlift Squadron assistant operations officer. “More than 30 volunteers came together to give him a day he would remember. Because we knew he likes superheroes, especially Batman, our team created a scenario where Hayden would help the Batman catch the Joker who was eluding us. He was given an assignment and intel brief, trained, given his wings, sat in the cockpit of our C-21 and then helped Batman catch the Joker at the end of the day. Our team got him a flight suit, name tag, hat and captain bars for his assignment, so he would truly be one of us for the day.”

Senior Airman Sheldon Timmermeyer, 375th SFS patrolman, started off the scenario by presenting Hayden with his own SFS beret and then drove him in his police car to his next destination. During the ride, Hayden got a kick out of playing with the sirens and the lights.

“Capt.” Hayden Brown’s first stop in his training was to the 906th Airlift Squadron where he test drove their KC-135 Simulator. Capt. James Quon assisted him on the flight as co-pilot as they made their way to Hawaii for some “training.” During the trip, Hayden was also joined by his younger sister, Kynliegh, who has also been a constant companion for Hayden.

Next, he visited the Air Traffic Control Tower where he viewed the entire base and got to listen to Batman over the radio. Master Sgt. Bill Corriston, 375th Operations Support Squadron, presented him with Air Force coins and patches, and pinned on an Air Traffic Control Occupational Badge.

Upon hearing Batman speak, Hayden burst into a smile. For 1st Lt. Robert Frisch, 458th Airlift Squadron mobility officer and project officer, it was his "absolute favorite part of the day. When we asked him who was talking to him he was able to muster out ‘Bat’ and then began laughing and smiling.”

Once inside, the formal ceremony began where Hayden received his medal along with other goodies the squadron and wing had provided—a t-shirt, patches, certificates, and a model of a C-21 aircraft—all to signify his training was complete and that he was an honorary member of both the 458th AS and the wing.

To keep the Joker off his trail, intel officer 2nd Lt. Kelsey Cullinan explained that he needed to change vehicles and that’s when he rode in a brand new huge snow plow with Senior Airman Ian Clark from the 375th Civil Engineer Squadron. Cullinan continued providing intel updates throughout the scenario and made quick friends with Hayden’s younger sister and constant companion, Kynliegh.

Upon arrival to base operations a team of volunteer Airmen along with the 375th AMW vice commander, Col. Chris Buschur, rendered their salutes as Hayden arrived.

There he met with some K-9s and their handlers, and with Explosive Ordnance Disposal technicians who showed Hayden the robot they use for demolition.

Once inside, the formal ceremony began where Hayden received his medal along with other goodies the squadron and wing had provided—a t-shirt, patches, certificates, and a model of a C-21 aircraft—all to signify his training was complete and that he was an honorary member of both the 458th AS and the wing.

Visibly moved by this show of affection, Jonathan would later write on a Facebook group he has created for Hayden, called “Love for Hayden Bentley Brown,” that his gratitude for the base and the VFW was “enormous. True love was shown today that will never be lost.”

Able added, “The Air Force went above and beyond. To Hayden, this day meant a happy memory. It’s something he will never forget.”

Now that he was an official member of the unit and had completed his “training,” the unit prepped him for his real mission with a weather update and pilot notams, then Frisch escorted Hayden to the C-21 to see what it’s like to be a pilot. He listened into the tower folks who relayed some updated information about Batman over the radio.

Then the 375th Civil Engineer Squadron firefighters arrived and greeted Hayden with a burst of water from their fire truck and demonstrated a fire rescue for Hayden.

The VFW reached out to the Airmen of the 375th Air Mobility Wing to see if they could assist in creating a special event for Hayden, which resulted in developing a “Pilot for a Day” program that included a formal presentation of the medal to him.

Then Batman arrived onto the flight line in one of the security forces’ newly acquired vehicles that resembles a batmobile. Hayden helped Batman catch the Joker and throw him in the police car to complete the day’s mission.

Brown stated online that, “These folks really went way above and beyond to show my son that life’s about smiling and enjoying life. In these tough times, this kind of gathering of countless people coming together to keep that amazing smile going is something I am very thankful for … My little man went to sleep smiling.”

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