US Navy Blue Angels give private audience to So. Utah veterans, a mutual gratitude

Lt. Cmdr. Nate Barton greets veterans at the St. George Municipal Airport, St. George, Utah, July 25, 2014 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News

ST. GEORGE – It was an event months in the making. A special audience – front row seats to Friday’s rehearsal flight – for the veterans of the Southern Utah Veterans Home with the United States Navy Blue Angels.

Caregiver Jackie Quandt and Joanne Carriere, a retired Navy veteran, prepare to load the bus for a special audience with the Blue Angels, St. George, Utah, July 25, 2014 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
Caregiver Jackie Quandt and Joanne Carriere, a retired Navy veteran, prepare to load the bus for a special audience with the Blue Angels, St. George, Utah, July 25, 2014 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News

Retired service men and women representing the Air Force, Army, Marines, Merchant Marines and Navy boarded buses on Friday afternoon bound for the St. George Municipal Airport where the Blue Angels have been preparing for the Thunder Over Utah Air Show taking place on Saturday and Sunday.

Preparations for the special day started in early spring, recreation director, Vie Van Noy, said and began with securing transportation for the veterans, their caregivers, veterans home staff and volunteers.

Air-conditioned buses specially equipped for wheel chairs were sent from the Department of Veterans Affairs office in Salt Lake City to transport the veterans from the home in Ivins to the airport. Bus drivers made the long trip specifically for the event, V.A. Emergency Management Coordinator, Jim Stritikus, said.

Some 40 veterans, along with family, volunteers and staff attended and anticipation was high for everyone involved.

Jim McCullough, a retired Merchant Marine, expressed his excitement at the chance to have a front row seat for the Angels.

Lieutenant Commander Mark DeBuse greets veterans from the Southern Utah Veterans Home at a special audience with the Blue Angels, St. George, Utah, July 25, 2014 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
Lt. Cmdr. Mark DeBuse greets veterans from the Southern Utah Veterans Home at a special audience with the Blue Angels, St. George, Utah, July 25, 2014 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News

“I am absolutely excited,” McCullough said, “it is even worth all the hoopla boarding the buses.”

McCullough served as a radio operator on “whatever ship they put me on,” he said.

For Ted Moyes, who spent 30 years in the Navy as a dentist, he said it was the opportunity to see the capabilites of the F-18s and the complicated maneuvers they perform that he was excited about.

Moyes has seen the Angels fly before, he said, and even has a photo of them in his room.

For Van Noy’s part, she was thrilled for the veterans to receive the special treatment and respect they deserve, she said.

Speaking of her job as recreation director; what started as a career change for Van Noy – who always respected the flag and our freedom, she said, but always considered the Fourth of July and other patriotic celebrations, barbecue and picnic holidays – has become something so much more now that she works with the veterans and has gotten to know them and of their service.

Retired Navy dentist, Ted Moyes attends a special audience with Blue Angels pilots, St. George, Utah, July 25, 2014 | Photo by Hollie Reina
Retired Navy dentist, Ted Moyes attends a special audience with Blue Angels pilots, St. George, Utah, July 25, 2014 | Photo by Hollie Reina

“It wasn’t until I started working with vets that I truly understood freedom and what these guys did for our country,” Van Noy said, “and why people do and should respect them.”

Many logistics and much careful planning went into pulling off the near-private show, Southern Utah Veterans Home administrator, Jerry Olson, said. Cold drinks and snacks were prepared, ear plugs for every veteran were available and all the medical necessities for the veterans home residents were on hand.

While most of it went off without a hitch, Mother Nature did put a kink in the plans.

Veterans arrived to a rainy and windy tarmac and took their seats in a reserved tent to watch the pageantry of the U.S. Navy Blue Angels as they were introduced and entered their planes.

Music from the popular movie “Top Gun” blared from a loud speaker as the F-18 engines roared into action and smoke billowed from the tails.

Excitement in the tent was palpable and the veterans could be seen smiling and shifting their seats for a better view. But it was too good to be true and soon the engines were shut down and the pilots exited their planes.

Organizers and veterans had been primarily worried about the July heat but, in the end, it was high winds and lightning from an approaching storm that grounded the Angels.

Nonetheless, the day did not end on a sour note. After the flight cancellation, Blue Angel pilots and crew members made their way over to the tent to personally speak with the veterans and thank them for their service.

Retired Navy Captain, Ron Lewis, shakes hands with Lieutenant Commander John Hiltz of the Blue Angels, St. George, Utah, July 25, 2014 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
Retired Navy Capt. Ron Lewis, shakes hands with Lt. Cmdr. John Hiltz of the Blue Angels, St. George, Utah, July 25, 2014 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News

The symbiotic relationship of respect between old guard and new was visible as pilots shook hands with the veterans and posed for photos.

“We respect them and they respect us,” Mass Communications Specialist First Class Eric Rowley, said.

The personal attention by one of the nation’s elite fleets meant a lot to many of the veterans who attended.

“Very few people actually get to meet the Blue Angels and for them to come from over there to this tent over here and speak with our veterans from our nursing home is significant,” Ron Lewis a Vietnam veteran and retired Navy pilot, said, “it means the world to me personally, I am a retired vet and these are my peoples.”

Service men and women who attended served in many capacities, in many branches of the service and in many locations all over the country and the world; they were nurses, doctors, radio operators, communications specialists, pilots and paratroopers. They defended the United States of America in the air, on land and sea.

Their service is over now – they have passed the torch to the brave men and women fighting the hard fight today – but their legacy and their stories will live on.

“Thank you to the Blue Angels and thank you to our veterans,” Lewis said.

 Click on photo to enlarge it, then use your left-right arrow keys to cycle through the gallery.

Related posts

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @STGnews

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2014, all rights reserved.

Free News Delivery by Email

Would you like to have the day's news stories delivered right to your inbox every evening? Enter your email below to start!

2 Comments

  • Hodja July 26, 2014 at 9:05 am

    “….Merchant Marines and Navy” PS a merchant Marine is not military or service related. Come on really.

    • Avatar photo Joyce Kuzmanic July 26, 2014 at 11:09 am

      Hodja, may I illuminate? Our reporter included the Merchant Marines because during times of war, particularly WWII, they acted as an auxiliary for the military and they did serve our country by delivering supplies including ammunition to our forces. There was a merchant marine represented at this event and the director also listed them in the branches of service and such that were represented at this event. Those who have served were given honor and received honor by these men serving in the U.S. Navy Blue Angels today – a special event.
      I hope that helps.
      ST. GEORGE NEWS | STGnews.com
      Joyce Kuzmanic
      Editor in Chief

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.