339th RCS celebrates Michigan tradition of growing cherries, flying Published July 14, 2008 By Lt. Col. Todd J. Weyerstrass 339th Recruiting Squadron CLINTON TOWNSHIP, Mich. -- The 339th Recruiting Squadron conducted one of its biggest marketing weekends of the year during July 4th weekend in two of Michigan's largest events, the National Cherry Festival and the Battle Creek Field of Flight Air Show and Balloon Festival. The National Cherry Festival was the 82nd annual celebration of its kind in Traverse City, the "Cherry Capital of the World," while Battle Creek showcased the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds for the 25th year of its air show's 28-year history. Recruiters celebrated by spreading the word about Air Force job opportunities, acquiring names of people interested in those opportunities and spending time with guests. The eight day National Cherry Festival's mission is to celebrate the area's treasured crop and to promote Traverse City tourism and community involvement. More than 500,000 people attended this year's highly anticipated event. Michigan has been a leader in cherry production since the 1800s, when the first commercial tart cherry orchards were planted in 1893 in the Wolverine State. Michigan now grows about 75 percent of the nation's 250 million pound crop of tart cherries. The National Cherry Festival was named a "USA Today" Top Ten Event from 1997 to 1999. In Battle Creek, the festival that began with only hot-air balloons has grown to become one of the largest air shows in the country. This year's show highlighted 11 aerobatic stunt performers including an F-15C demonstration team from the 173rd Fighter Wing, Kingsley Field, Ore.; two A-10 demonstration teams from the 110th Fighter Wing, Battle Creek, Mich.; the Air Combat Command West Coast A-10 Demo Team, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz.; and a P-51 Heritage Flight. The 339th RCS also celebrated having the Wood Brothers Racing's NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Air Force Show Car on hand to help highlight the Air Force.