AFA’s Doolittle Leadership Center is thrilled to present the Doolittle Raiders Memorial Toast, a U.S. Air Force Heritage event taking place April 18, 2024. Reigniting a decades-long Air Force tradition started by AFA’s founding president Gen. Jimmy Doolittle and his fellow Raiders in 1945, AFA members around the world will raise a glass to the 82nd anniversary of the legendary Doolittle Raid and the Raiders’ enduring warfighting spirit, bravery, and innovation.
The keynote speaker and toastmaster will be Gen. Thomas A. Bussiere, Commander of Air Force Global Strike Command.
Join the Toast
When:
April 18, 2024
5:45 – 6:30 p.m. ET
Where:
Livestream on YouTube*
*The livestream will begin at 5:45 p.m. on April 18, 2024.
FAQ
How can I participate in the Doolittle Raiders Toast?
AFA will be livestreaming the event on YouTube so that you or your organization can toast along with us from anywhere in the world. The livestream will begin at 5:45 p.m. ET and last for 40-45 minutes.
What does the ceremony entail?
The ceremony will begin at 5:45 p.m. ET with an invocation, brief historical background on the Doolittle Raid, and remarks by Gen. Bussiere. A presentation remembering all 80 Doolittle Raiders will culminate in the traditional Toast at 6:18 p.m. ET.
The ceremony livestream time doesn’t work for me. Can I still access the Toast?
The Doolittle Leadership Center will post the recorded livestream on our YouTube channel as soon as the event is over. Feel free to use the recording in your own ceremony or on its own.
Are there instructions for how I or my group can prepare for participating?
Yes! Please download this PDF explaining the traditional requirements and wording for the Doolittle Raiders Toast. We recommend using Hennessey Cognac, Jimmy’s favorite, for the Toast itself.
My organization already has plans for the commemorating the Toast. Can I still be involved?
Yes! We encourage using our livestream or recording in your own ceremony. We will provide the basics—historical background, an invocation, a listing of the Raiders according to bomber crew, and the traditionally worded Toast presentation—but we encourage more detailed, unique traditions to live on in your organization or unit.
Visit website: https://www.afa.org/doolittle-leadership-center/doolittle-raiders-toast/ for more information.
