HOUSTON – Against the backdrop of clear blue skies, hearts swelled with pride and some people even shed tears Wednesday during the thunderous flyover of the Blue Angels in Houston.
The spectacle, which is part of the America Strong tour, started in The Woodlands at 12:30 p.m. where healthcare workers gathered outside the Methodist Hospital there. Many of them said they felt very honored to have a tribute paid to them by members of the military.
“They’re the true heroes,” one nurse said.
With smoke trailing behind them, the jets flew from The Woodlands to Kingwood and then to the Texas Medical Center, where cheers erupted from healthcare workers gathered on the helicopter pad at Memorial Hermann Hospital.
“I felt very honored to see this,” one worker said.
“It gives us hope and it lets us know that we are appreciated,” a nurse said.
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The squadron circled the Medical Center before flying across southwest Houston where they created a trail of smoke over the Memorial Hermann Southwest Hospital.
“Wow!” said KPRC 2 meteorologist Justin Stapleton, who was standing on the roof of the KPRC 2 studios which are next to the hospital. “That was amazing.”
From there, the formation of seven jets flew down to Sugar Land.
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The Blue Angels fly in formation over Houston as part of the team's America Strong tour on May 6, 2020.
“It’s an incredible show of support from our Armed Forces,” said one worker at the Houston Methodist facility there. “We have some incredible members of our team right here, right now.”
The precision flying team then traveled to the Katy area and west Houston before returning to the downtown Houston area.
“It was a great tribute to the doctors and nurses working hard to keep us safe,” said a veteran who had gathered to watch the flyover with his daughter near Memorial City.
After making another pass over the Texas Medical Center, the Blue Angels flew southeast to end the flyover at Ellington Field at 1 p.m.
From Houston, the Blue Angels will head to New Orleans to conduct a flyover salute to front-line workers there.
A flyover is also being organized by The Lone Star Flight Museum on Friday, where people will have the chance to see nearly 30 rare and historic warbirds. Click here to read more about that flyover.