Photo By Staff Sgt. Samantha Hircock | Staff Sgt. Matthew Lloyd, a musician with the 34th Army Band, Iowa Army National...... read more read more
Subscribe
DES MOINES, Iowa – Enlisted Soldiers, Airmen and retirees of the Iowa National Guard gathered for the 2025 Enlisted Appreciation Dinner, held March 29 at the Airport Holiday Inn in Des Moines.
The dinner is part of an annual two-day convention hosted by the Enlisted Association of the National Guard of Iowa.
Attendees participated in networking, development meetings, games and more during the day.
At the dinner, actor and comedian Michael Winslow, best known as the "man of 10,000 sound effects" and for his role as Sgt. Larvelle Jones in the "Police Academy" film series, performed for a lively audience.
Attendees raised their phones imitating concertgoers with lighters during Winslow’s fully vocal performance of Prince’s "Purple Rain."
Winslow’s father, Robert Winslow, was a member of the famed Tuskegee Airmen, graduating in 1945 as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Air Corps. Winslow grew up on air bases, practicing his vocalizations for service members, and has a deep appreciation for military service.
Command Sgt. Maj. Matthew Strasser, the Command Senior Enlisted Leader of the Iowa National Guard, presented Winslow with a command coin in recognition of his performance and support for service members.
The evening also featured a charity auction benefiting the We Care for Iowa Foundation, a nonprofit founded by members of the Iowa National Guard to support fellow Guard members and their families. Bidding was enthusiastic, and attendees raised more than $9,000 in less than five minutes.
“I am incredibly proud of everyone who attended this year,” said Sgt. Maj. Peter Moeller, president of the Enlisted Association of the National Guard of Iowa. “Raising over $9,000 for We Care for Iowa in less than five minutes demonstrates their commitment to making a permanent impact in the lives of our Airmen, Soldiers and their families. On top of the amazing performance from Michael Winslow and the professional development training earlier in the weekend, we are continuing to demonstrate the value of professional organizations and the need for service members to actively participate.”
After dinner, attendees filtered out to the pool area, where the 34th Army Band set up for their performance.
Guests mingled and couples got their photos taken at a booth with a professional photographer. The officers joined after their appreciation dinner.
As the band played, a father and daughter were the first to start dancing and soon others got their feet moving and joined them on the dance floor.
Michael Winslow performed with the 34th Army Band and graciously greeted those who wanted to shake his hand.
The evening concluded on a note of camaraderie, laughter and friendship. Both the Enlisted and Officer Appreciation Dinners serve as an opportunities for service members to reflect on achievements, take pride in their service, and enjoy time with their families and peers.
| Date Taken: | 04.11.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 05.14.2025 10:18 |
| Story ID: | 495119 |
| Location: | JOHNSTON, IOWA, US |
| Web Views: | 12 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, 2025 Enlisted Appreciation Dinner, by SSG Samantha Hircock, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
