Thank God For “The Sound Of Freedom”: Thunderbirds And Blue Angels Salute Frontline Workers
Crowds gathered Saturday afternoon [May 2, 2020] in Atlanta to watch the Navy’s Blue Angels and the Air Force‘s Thunderbirds pay tribute to frontline workers amid the coronavirus pandemic. The hashtag #AmericaStrong chronicled the event on social media.
Georgia onlooker and former Attorney General Sam Olens, summarized the spectacle perfectly: “The sound of freedom – in honor of Responders.”
As we near the end of America being unduly cooped up, the sound of freedom is welcome.
The flyover is icing on the cake for Georgia residents. Amid much criticism, especially from the left (shock!), Governor Brian Kemp stood strong for health, freedom, and common sense, by being the first leader to reopen his state (April 29). So far the state’s COVID-19 numbers continue to trend lower. #PAGAPraise
More about the Blue Angels and Thunderbirds missions, photos, and video links, below the prayer.
Prayer
Father God,
Thank You for the Blue Angels and Thunderbirds’ flyover tributes in America. These salutes display some of our intangible Godsends—American strength, innovation, creativity, resolve, and patriotism. Help us never to take them for granted.
With sincere hearts, we express gratitude to You Lord for the many blessings You have granted to our land. We thank You for the wisdom and genius of the Founders who demonstrated such forethought and fortitude. Throughout world history, the truth these men recognized have been affirmed time and again—no nation can stand without You. We are indebted to You for these values preserved in our founding documents. May they persevere until Jesus returns.
We thank You for the bravery, skill, and talent of the Blue Angels and Thunderbirds and their eager willingness to do these flyovers. Thank You for the aviators’ awareness of the need to salute essential workers, first responders, and healthcare workers. We appreciate the showcase of their God-given talents for this tribute with the double blessing of bringing unity to many during this pandemic.
We ask that You continue to keep these pilots safe during their remaining missions. Bless the flyovers that they may bless onlookers. May these events continue to inspire hope and usher in America’s return to normal.
We thank You for the perseverance and sacrifice of frontline workers—grocery stockers, cashiers, store managers, truckers, sanitation crews, ambulance drivers, doctors, nurses, nurse assistants, respiratory therapists, cooks, food preparers, food deliverers, and (name others).
Protect these people while driving back and forth to work, walking in the buildings, and of course, from coronavirus.
We pray also for special blessings on our essential workers. When this pandemic is over, and we trust You God that it will be over without delay, let us not forget our essential workers. How backwards our nation had become—thinking actors, musicians, singers, and sports figures were essential. Let us never forget those who are absolutely essential. Help us always to show them much deserved respect, kindness, and appreciation.
And Sovereign Lord, help our nation! Help us!
Thank You for the wise leaders of states who are opening back up. Revive businesses. Revive livelihoods. Revive! Revive us again!
Lord Jesus, for those politicians who are oppressing their residents, and You know exactly who they are, we lift them up to You now. Change their hearts. Change hard hearts that are filled with pride and the desire to control, to hearts that care about other people! Oh God, certainly You are appalled at those who don’t care about people! Instead of giving honor to others, like the Blue Angels and Thunderbirds have done, they seek their own sinister honor, which is no honor at all, by overreaching their authority. We saw this behavior first in the garden when Satan overreached his authority. We pray for the people under undue oppression. For the oppressors, one day “each of us will give an account of himself, or herself, to God” (Romans 14:12),
Help us to stay mindful of the people who are essential in the land. America is the home of the brave and the land of the free. God help us never lose sight of that as we move into November.
In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
Navy’a Blue Angels fly in tight formation.
America Feels The Need—The Need To Be Freed!
Navy’s Blue Angels and Air Force’s Thunderbirds Washington D.C. flyover, May 2, 2020.
The Navy’s Blue Angels and the Air Force’s Thunderbirds took off from Fort McHenry in Baltimore around 11:30 a.m. Saturday. The squadron of 12 high-performance jets flew in formation above Maryland, Virginia and Washington D.C., passing over key hospitals and neighborhoods, before making its way to Atlanta.
Coordinated by the Department of Defense as a “goodwill gesture,” the Thunderbirds and Blue Angels flyovers Saturday followed similar demonstrations over New York City, Philadelphia and northern New Jersey last Tuesday.
Air Force Lt. Col. John Caldwell, who served as Thunderbird 1 and mission commander for the flyover, explained on Fox and Friends how the idea came about.
“We were talking with the Navy Blue Angels early on, whenever we developed this concept to do these flyovers to kind of honor the first responders, the essential workers and the health care professionals and we had a chance to do a flyover over Las Vegas and we saw that people really responded well to it,” Caldwell said.
The Air Force Thunderbirds and the Navy’s Blue Angels then came up with the idea to “join forces” and “hit some of the towns that have been impacted by COVID-19 the most,” he added.
April 28, 2020 Flyover Northeast
Tuesday’s [April 28, 2020) flyover began noon over the George Washington Bridge between New Jersey and Manhattan and continued over New York City’s other boroughs before crossing parts of Long Island and Connecticut.
Then the teams conducted a similar display in and around the cities of Trenton, N.J., Philadelphia and Wilmington, Delaware.
In preparation for the northeast event, Lt. Col. Caldwell said, “We are truly excited to take to the skies with our Navy counterparts for a nation-wide tribute to the men and women keeping our communities safe.” “We hope to give Americans a touching display of American resolve that honors those serving on the frontline of our fight with COVID-19.”
Blue Angels and Thunderbirds New York City flyover; the 12 high-performance jets fly over Manhattan Bridge. Both the planes and the bridge icons of American strength and excellence.
Commander Brian Kesselring, Blue Angels commanding officer and flight leader, praised the dedication of those on the front lines and said it is an honor to highlight their perseverance and sacrifice.
“We are incredibly honored to have the opportunity to salute those working on the frontline of the COVID-19 response, we are in awe of your strength and resilience,” he said in a statement. “Thank you to all of those in essential industries keeping our nation moving forward. We will get through this. We are all in this together.
These missions are some of several that are planned in the weeks ahead.
Check out #AmericaStrong comments and reactions on social media. The phenomenal response from Americans display the patriotism shared by the silent majority.
Be sure to watch the videos. Chill bumps alert! #AmericaStrong and very proud. Here are three:
Northeast flyover, April 28, 2020
