By Mike Finney

DOVER — Dina Vendetti, president of the Central Delaware Chamber of Commerce, says the bond is so strong between the capital city and the Dover Air Force Base that “not even a pandemic can pull it apart.”

It is that kind of cohesion between the Dover community and DAFB that helped CDCC secure the coveted Abilene Trophy for the fourth time — adding even more significance to what is known as Team Dover.

The recognition is given annually to a civilian community for its outstanding support of a nearby Air Mobility Command base.

The winner is determined by a selection group comprised of the Abilene (Texas) Chamber of Commerce’s Military Affairs Committee. Final approval is given by AMC.

“The mic drop on that is that we brought (the Abilene Trophy) out for the fourth time, but the fourth one we won during the pandemic,” Ms. Vendetti said of trophies earned in 1999, 2008, 2015 and 2021. “We have created such a bond between Team Dover and the city of Dover. You know, the residents here are just so proud of the things that continue to happen through Dover Air Force Base.”

CDCC submitted a nomination package last year that highlighted programs between the city and the air base, such as Leadership Central Delaware, Bluesuiters Golf Tournaments, the State of the Base briefing, the Military Affaire receptions, the Honorary Commander Program and more.

Ms. Vendetti said it is especially noteworthy that CDCC worked diligently to continue its support of the base with activities during the most critical months of the pandemic.

“We’ve been able to do some events and things that have brought the two groups together — the civilians and the military people,” she said. “Connections have been made, relationships have been forged, and it’s become a deal where their family is one of ours, so anytime we can do something to lift that up, we are really happy to do it.”

The traveling Abilene Trophy is a very large bronze sculpture of an American bald eagle in flight.

The piece is sent to the winner to display during its winning year. Smaller versions of the eagle are given to honored communities when the next recipient is announced.

Brian Stetina, chairman of CDCC, said the Dover community has an outstanding relationship with its neighboring military base.

“It’s so cool because I’m the chair of the chamber at the moment, and when we have our monthly board meetings, we have the colonel (Matt Husemann) from Dover Air Force Base come to our board meetings,” he said. “The guy who runs the whole base comes once a month and sits down with us and tells us about what’s going on at the air base.

“We have a partnership with each other to make sure they’re successful, and it’s just a nice community to live in and a good relationship between the two. It’s truly a testament to the Dover community.”

Established in 1999, the Abilene Trophy is sponsored by the Abilene Chamber of Commerce. Prior to 1999, Abilene won the Strategic Air Command and Air Combat Command Community Award so often that those honors were subsequently retired.

However, early that year, AMC and the Abilene Chamber’s Military Affairs Committee co-created the AMC Community Support Award, now known as the “Abilene Trophy.”

While being recognized is always nice, Ms. Vendetti said she has gotten chills seeing C-17 cargo planes taking off recently.

“They always have a visual presence in the community, that’s for sure,” she said. “Everyone can look up and see them in the skies.

“By my own background and perspective, anytime I see one of these planes right now, I pray for them because they have been running in and out of here from all over the world, trying to provide support on the whole thing that’s happening over there in the Ukraine.”