For five years, Hill Air Force Base families about to face deployment have been trekking to the Ogden Valley for a free weekend in a luxury home, recreation, workshops and a dinner dance.

So it made sense, when it came time this fall for the base to honor four community leaders who "go above and beyond supporting Hill Air Force Base's men and women," that Sue Munson, who helps orchestrate the four-times-a-year retreats, was among those picked for the honor.

Munson is treasurer of the Wolf Creek Foundation, which hosts the airmen and their families, and director of guest services for Wolf Creek Resort in Eden.

"It's been really satisfying for us because of the feedback we get from participants," says Munson.

The retreats began in 2006 after Wolf Creek's former managing partner, Steve Roberts, had a conversation with a HAFB chaplain while both were serving a meal at Ogden's Rescue Mission.

Roberts has since died, but more than 1,500 HAFB families have attended the retreat weekends, Munson says. "I think about him every retreat. He has a presence here every time."

The other three honored with HAFB Wingman Awards were Rick Hartle, Jodi Holmgren and Barbara Riddle.

Maj. Gen. Andrew Busch, Ogden Air Logistics Center commander, presented the awards at a luncheon and gave each honoree a medal and personalized portrait, which is also displayed in the Hill Aerospace Museum.

Hartle, a manager at The Boeing Co., is a lifetime member of the Air Force Association, and a member of the Top of Utah Military Affairs Executive Committee.

But it was his work to help set up a Junior Enlisted Center on base and his continuing involvement each summer with the "Salute to Our Nation's Defenders Picnic" that led to his honor.

His father was an enlisted airman, and Hartle says he always had an affinity for those in the enlisted ranks. "These are the workers that are making things happen on the fight line and throughout the Air Force."

The center gives enlisted airmen a place to shoot pool, watch movies, even have jam sessions, says Hartle. "It's a place where they can be each others' wingmen."

The annual summer picnic began as an event for families facing deployment and is now open to all military families. Last summer, 2,500 showed up.

"It's about community," says Hartle. "Most of us feel what the men and women of the military are doing to protect our freedoms and allow us to go about our daily lives is really important."

Holmgren, a marketing and public relations consultant, sees her role as president of the 388th Fighter Wing Falcons as primarily about service.

The Falcons comprises former honorary commanders of the various squadrons in the 388th. They do everything from flip burgers to feed airmen to raise money, via a golf tournament and other projects, for quality-of-life programs.

On the day before Thanksgiving, Holmgren and her two children were on base, serving the holiday meal to airmen.

The Falcons also educate the wider community on Hill's role in the military. They recently visited the Pentagon and are planning a trip to Langley Air Force Base in Virginia. This fall, they hosted a luncheon for 200 community leaders who heard about world hot spots from a top adviser to the Air Force.

Riddle, a former president of the Falcons, is also active in the Top of Utah Military Affairs Executive Committee, a joint committee of the chambers of commerce in Davis and Weber counties. She is the president and chief executive officer of the Davis Area Convention and Visitors' Bureau.

She's been the chairwoman of the big "Salute to Our Nation's Defenders" picnic the past two years, and involved in the Top of Utah committee's program to have airmen recognized at Raptor baseball and Weber State University football games.

Connecting airmen and their families to community resources is also a big part of the mission of Riddle and other volunteers. For instance, the quality-of-life committee she leads helped orchestrate roundtable discussions on suicide.

Getting to know the airmen and the sacrifices they make, Riddle says, "brings it home."

"The biggest thing we can do for our base is to appreciate what they do."

kmoulton@sltrib.com