Youth center raises, releases painted lady butterflies

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Vandenberg Youth Center students and faculty release painted lady butterflies June 29 after being grown from a crystalisis stage as part of a summer science project. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Samuel Bendet)

JROTC visits Vandenberg, gets feel for Air Force life

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Command Chief Master Sgt. Michael McNiff prepares hamburgers with Senior Airman Andrew Adams for the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps luncheon at Cocheo Park. The 144th Fighter Wing command chief master sergeant and the sheet metal journeyman with the 144th Maintenance Squadron brought students and dependents of Air and Army National Guard from Fresno, Calif., to Vandenberg to show them the occupational impact and lifestyle demands of their parents, many of whom live nowhere near a military installation. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Kristi Emler)

Lompoc Flower Festival celebrates American history

Col. Benjamin Huff, 30th Mission Support Group commander, rides on a fire engine with the Vandenberg Middle School Cheerleaders during the 55th Annual Flower Festival Parade in Lompoc on June 23. The festival celebrated the theme of American History on Parade as bands, floats, equestrian units, drill teams, and clowns entertained the crowd. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Christian Thomas)

Lompoc Flower Festival celebrates American history

Lt. Col. Lesa Toler, 576th Flight Test Squadron commander, waves to the crowd during the 55th Annual Flower Festival Parade in Lompoc on June 23. The festival celebrated the theme of American History on Parade as bands, floats, equestrian units, drill teams, and clowns entertained the crowd. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Christian Thomas)

Gear, course preps riders for safe trip on highway to danger zone

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Motorcycle safety begins with protective equipment and the motorcycle safety course, both of which are required for all Vandenberg riders. (Courtesy image/30th Space Communications Squadron)

PCC reveives extreme Italian makeover

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- For the Italian space community's first satellite launch from Vandenberg, the Italian Ministry of Defense transformed the Pacific Coast Club into a non-conventional viewing site for the Italian COSMO Sky-Med satellite launch on June 7. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Corenthia Fennell)