Blue Angels Fly Over Medical Centers In Salute To Front Line

Lorraine Swanson
Updated ·2 min read

OAK LAWN, IL — South suburban residents gathered Tuesday in fields, parks, streets and parking garage rooftops to watch the U.S. Navy Blue Angels fly over Chicago-area medical centers in a show of a solidarity with health care workers on the front line of the coronavirus pandemic.

America Strong is a collaborative salute from the Navy and Air Force to recognize health care workers, first responders and other essential personnel while standing in solidarity with all Americans enduring a weary spring of quarantining at home.

Eyes were trained to the sky as the legendary air team soared over OSF-Little Company of Mary Medical Center in Evergreen Park and Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn.

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Medical workers in scrubs and face masks stepped outside Advocate Christ for a breath of air and to soak up some sun to catch the roaring formation of fighter jets putting on a show overhead.

For Oak Lawn residents like John Hannon, who as a kid watched the mighty Navy air team perform at air shows, it was a chance to introduce his two sons, Jacon and Jesse, to the Blue Angels.

The Navy Flight Demonstration Team and the Air Force Flying Team have been conducting multi-city flyovers the past few weeks over areas of the United States the hardest hit by COVID-19. The demonstrations are intended as a symbol of unity, hope and appreciation for those working the front line and to citizens that the American spirit will prevail.

Oak Lawn resident John Hannon and his boys, Jacob and Jesse, search the skies for the Blue Angels.
Oak Lawn resident John Hannon and his boys, Jacob and Jesse, search the skies for the Blue Angels.

Throughout the day residents posted photos and videos of the majestic planes on social media. The Blue Angels also flew over Indianapolis and Detroit, before heading back the Blue Angels’ home base at Forest Sherman Field Naval Air Station in Pensacola, FL.

For those who caught a glimpse of the Blue Angels zooming into the wild blue yonder, it was definitely morale boosting.

Video by Lorraine Swanson | Patch

Video by Steve Radice, Village of Oak Lawn

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This article originally appeared on the Oak Lawn Patch