photo by bobby jones Art Thorton, left, his guest, Mary Fields, and Harold Speed, reminisce while looking at sports clippings from tournaments held at Sembach Air Base, Germany.

More than 100 former members of the USAFE Football League participated in a social meet and greet Sept. 1, and a barbeque and dinner Sept. 2.

‘‘The reunion was held to see guys you haven’t seen over the years and to meet guys that have played before and after your time,” said Tech. Sgt. Scott A. Thomas, Headquarters Air Force Office of Special Investigations Status of Resources and Training System and Air Expeditionary Force Reporting Tool functional manager and reunion coordinator.

Attendees who played in the football league were based all over Europe from Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England to Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany.

The USAFE Football League, which existed from 1946 to 1993, consisted of three conferences,” said Sergeant Thomas, who played football from 1990 to 1992 while stationed at RAF Lakenheath, England and Hahn Air Base, Germany. ‘‘The Continental Sports conference consisted of bases in Germany, Belgium, and even France. The United Kingdom Sports Conference were the bases in England, and the Mediterranean Sports Conference consisted of bases in Greece, Turkey and Italy.”

The reunion also included several non-players who were important to the league, including guest speaker Thomas Burkett, USAFE sports director from 1989 to 2003, and coaches and officials.

The oldest attendee at the reunion was Wilber Carey, #63, from Rhein- Main Air Base, Germany, who played in the league from 1958 through 1966.

The reunion was held due to the camaraderie amongst the small group of individuals who had the opportunity to play full contact football while serving in Europe, said Sergeant Thomas.