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Nov 6, 2009 6:14 pm US/Eastern
Spirits Soar At Homestead Air Reserve Base
HOMESTEAD (CBS4) ―
The Air Force Thunderbirds are in South Florida this weekend. They're putting aerial artistry on display in the sky over Homestead Air Reserve Base, and on Friday veterans from the VA Hospital got front row seats to watch practice maneuvers.
The aerobatics were breathtaking, but the real treat came with watching spirits soar. Lorenzo Marshall was a firefighter in the Air Force 50 years ago. He told me, "I was on the flight line. It (today) was quite an honor." Air Force veteran Gabriel Figueroa enjoyed the show immensely too. He said, "It is wonderful, absolutely wonderful."
There was a symbolic moment that seemed to join eras—old and new. A World War Two era P-51 Mustang flew at flank speed alongside a slow moving F-15 Eagle, one of the fastest, most agile fighters in the modern Air Force arsenal. Everyone in attendance looked on in awe. American Red Cross volunteer Jesika Davis, whose team helped attend to the needs of vets Friday, summed up the moment well. Davis said, "It is just wonderful to see their joy and pride. It is almost like they go back to wearing the uniform."
Homestead Air Reserve Base spokesman Lt. Col. Thomas David told me, "These folks were protecting our freedom 40 and 50 years ago and we are delighted to have them here today." That is a sentiment and a salute everyone shared on a special afternoon.
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