The US Navy’s Blue Angels and the Air Force’s Thunderbirds flew over Washington DC and Baltimore on Saturday to salute healthcare workers, first responders, and other essential workers.
Saturday’s flyover was the second joint salute the military has conducted. The first joint flight occurred on Tuesday, April 28, over New York, New Jersey, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The DC flight path took the jets over the National Mall and several hospitals.
Many local journalists published video from iconic spots in Washington DC.
Here is a video of the #BlueAngels flyover through the DC area, honoring all the front line workers. #FrontLineHeroes @WashInformer pic.twitter.com/QW7LFjdScx
— Anthony Tilghman (@AnthonyTilghman) May 2, 2020
Blue Angels and Thunderbirds fly over National Mall in honor of health care workers on a beautiful day in DC. pic.twitter.com/sjjibv6Dp4
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) May 2, 2020
Los #BlueAngels sobrevuelan hoy Washington DC, en homenaje al personal sanitario, trabajadores esenciales y todos los héroes en primera fila pic.twitter.com/kte8ViUNCr
— Dori Toribio (@DoriToribio) May 2, 2020
Well that was cool #blueangels pic.twitter.com/VPPn6BMPQ2
— laura trags (@lauratrags) May 2, 2020
The Baltimore flyover went over Fort McHenry, Johns Hopkins, and BWI Airport.
the @BlueAngels fly over @HopkinsMedicine in Baltimore, MD pic.twitter.com/32a5aVEsGX
— T.J. McMorrow (@tjmcmorrow) May 2, 2020
The jets also flew over Atlanta, Georgia, later in the day.
Here’s cockpit video from earlier in the week of the Blue Angels flying over New York City.
Now, while this is a nice gesture by the US military (and entertaining people right now with a majestic salute is a nice gesture, especially when for these pilots it’s the only way they can give back), the dangerous side effect is that the excitement brings people out of their homes during a pandemic and social distancing may not be followed. The other issue is that for many frontline workers, they still desperately need personal protective equipment. One could passionately argue that this energy and money should be spent on that and hazard pay for these heroes putting themselves in harm’s way.
Regardless of how you feel about the flyover, the sentiment remains the same on both sides. For those of you who are risking your lives every day to protect, care, and feed us: thank you for what you are doing.
Headline photo: Navy Lt. Cmdr. Aaron Hicks
