Love, service and 50 years: Couple returns to Keesler to renew vows where their Air Force journey began Published March 16, 2026 By Capt. Paige Skinner 81st Training Wing Public Affairs KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- Fifty years after saying “I do” inside Keesler Air Force Base’s Triangle Chapel, Burt and Christy Newsome returned to the same place where their Air Force journey and life together began. The visit marked a milestone anniversary and reflection on how military training, community, and commitment helped shape a lifetime of service, resilience and family. When the couple first married at Keesler in the 1970s, they were young and just beginning their military life. “It was sunny. It was a beautiful day,” Burt recalled. “I was 19 years old, and everything went by really quick.” Soon after their wedding, the realities of military service arrived. After Burt’s technical training, he departed for Germany, leaving his new wife Christy behind until he could secure housing overseas. Months later, she boarded her first international flight, eight months pregnant, to reunite with him. “It was a little scary,” she said. “I didn’t know where to go or what to do.” The couple credits the Air Force community they encountered early in Burt’s career with helping them navigate the challenges of military life. For this couple, the lessons learned throughout their time in the Air Force stayed with them long after leaving active duty. “Discipline and commitment,” Burt said. “That’s what it taught us. You’ve got to stay committed to your work and to each other.” After separating from the Air Force in 1979, Burt continued serving the aviation community as an air traffic controller with the Federal Aviation Administration for more than 26 years. The couple built a life together that ultimately spanned five decades of marriage and raised two sons, continuing a legacy of service within their family. Looking back, they say the experiences they had as a young military couple helped shape their resilience and independence. “You learn to just keep going,” Christy said. “You breathe, you work through it, and most times you come out on the good side.” Their story also reflects a broader truth experienced by many military families, that service is rarely carried by the uniformed member alone. “There was always somebody willing to help,” Burt said. “If we needed something, people would help us find it. Everybody helped everybody.” That sense of community remains a cornerstone of the Air Force today. At Keesler, where thousands of Airmen train each year, developing Airminded Warriors and resilient families remains central to the mission. As part of the Air Education and Training Command, installations like Keesler are responsible for developing the next generation of Airmen, not only for technical proficiency but also for the character and resilience required throughout a lifetime of service. “Being a military spouse is a tough job,” Burt said. “The spouse at home keeps everything running, manages the kids, and explains why mom or dad has to be gone. It takes strength.” Today, Keesler’s mission to train and develop Airmen remains deeply connected to those same values of perseverance, pride and service. When asked what advice he would give to young Airmen beginning their careers today, Burt gave a simple answer. “Never give up,” he said. “Always strive to do your best even when nobody is looking.” The couple said returning to Keesler after 50 years was a meaningful reminder of where their journey started. “I wanted to come back and show where we started from,” he said, “and where we are now.” Visiting the place where they first married, they reflected on what they might tell their younger selves if given the chance. “It’s worth it,” Christy said. “You’ll go through tough times but just keep going.” Their message to today’s Airmen and families mirrors the Air Force core values of integrity, service before self and excellence in all we do. “Have faith in yourself, faith in each other, and faith in what you’re doing,” Burt said. “That’s what keeps you going.”