Col. Joseph Sweeney watches on as two honor guardsmen fold the flag during his retirement ceremony on Otis Air National Guard Base May 5, 2012 Col. Sweeney is retiring from a military career which began as a Marine, before he transitioned to the Air National Guard in 1992. He commanded both at the squadron and group levels during his career which spanned more than 30 years. Hundreds of Sweeney’s relatives, friends and fellow Airmen were in attendance to celebrate Sweeney’s career coming to a close. (Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Patrick McKenna/Released)