Thunderbirds Honor Veterans on the Ground and in the Skies Over VAMC
By John Archiquette, Public Affairs Specialist
On June 25, members of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds paid a personal visit to the North Las Vegas VA Medical Center, where they spent time with Veterans in inpatient care.
On June 25, members of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds paid a personal visit to the North Las Vegas VA Medical Center, where they spent time with Veterans in inpatient care. During the visit, the Thunderbirds got to know several Veterans and learned about their personal experiences and military service. The quiet, one-on-one moments stood in contrast to the team’s usual role thundering across the sky in F-16s, offering a reminder that the squadron’s mission extends beyond airshows into direct engagement with the Veteran community it represents.
A few days later, the Thunderbirds returned to the skies above that same medical center, this time as part of a much larger tribute. On Saturday, June 27, the squadron flew its iconic six-aircraft delta formation over the Las Vegas Valley as part of Southern Nevada’s America250 celebration.
Departing from Nellis Air Force Base, the jets traced a route over the Las Vegas Strip, the North Las Vegas VA Medical Center, Lone Mountain, the Las Vegas Ballpark, Red Rock Canyon, Mt. Charleston, Hoover Dam, and Boulder City, a flight path that deliberately passed back over the VAMC. The flyover was framed as a tribute to Southern Nevada’s role in the nation’s story as the country approaches its 250th anniversary.
The Thunderbirds followed up days later with another flyover, passing over Hoover Dam and its massive American flag at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, June 30, as they continued on to Washington, D.C., for the Salute to America250 celebrations.