129th RQW Hosts National Prayer Lunch

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MOFFETT FEDERAL AIRFIELD, Calif. --  Lt. Col. Steven Torgerson, wing chaplain for the 60th Air Mobility Wing at Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, was the guest speaker at the 129th Rescue Wing Commander's National Prayer Lunch at Moffett Federal Airfield on March 7. The lunch consisted of a musical selection from the 561st Air Force Band, and welcome speech given by Col. Amos Bagdasarian, the 129th RQW commander, and a brief history of the national prayer service by 129th RQW Maj. Ivan Williams, 129th RQW chaplain. The national prayer service was established in 1953 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower to recognize the moral and religious values upon which the nation is founded. With interfaith prayers reaching followers of Buddhism, Catholicism, Hinduism and Protestantism, Chaplain Torgerson believes it's his job to everybody's chaplain, including nonbelievers. "It's my job to be there for everyone," he said. "Every faith has followers that need assistance in coping with retirement, possibly dealing with post traumatic stress disorder and the spirit of recovery. It's my job to be there and give them the theological perspective of a chaplain." Prior to assuming his current position of being responsible for the spiritual well being and free exercise of religion for nearly 24,500 active duty, reserve and civilian personnel and their families at Travis AFB, Chaplain Torgerson served as the deputy command chaplain for Multinational Force, Iraq. He went to Iraq after spending two years at Air Staff as the Chairman for the Air Force Integrated Delivery System and also worked in the plans and programs division of the Office of the Chief of Chaplains. "I don't normally travel to other units to speak, however the National Prayer Lunch is a nice way to reach more people and bring troops together." (Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Kim Ramirez)