Honor America Days: NEADS participates in parade, flyover

  • Published
  • By Brooke Davis
  • Northeast Air Defense Sector
ROME, N.Y. --  The loud rumble of the first-ever CF-18 flyover here kicked-off the Honor America Days in appropriate air power style.

Members from the Northeast Air Defense Sector marched in the Honor America Days Parade July 26.

The 1.5 mile parade in Rome included a bi-national color guard and participants from NEADS, Air Force Research Laboratory, Information Directorate, and the Rome Free Academy Junior ROTC.

Honor America Days is designed to showcase the community through a series of family-friendly events, attractions and activities -- many of which occur every year. One of the most popular annual features -- a Syracuse Symphony Orchestra pops concert and fireworks show -- kicked-off the Honor America Days celebration.

During the July 27 concert, held at the Fort Stanwix National Monument, the orchestra performed the "1812 Overture" and "Stars and Stripes." The performance included church bells, cannon fire, fireworks and perfectly timed flyover from two CF-18s.

The CF-18s were from the 425 Tactical Fighter Squadron, located in Bagotville, Quebec, Canada, and they expertly performed a flyover in honor of the North American Aerospace Defense Command's 50th Anniversary.

NORAD was featured throughout the Honor America Days because of the NEADS' role in both the Rome community and its mission. BG André Viens, Continental U.S. NORAD region deputy commander, was instrumental in facilitating the CF-18 flyover. BG Viens visited NEADS Sept. 11, 2007 and his photo is the first-ever Canadian general's to be displayed at The Savoy restaurant in Rome. The Savoy is known for its historical role in the community as it celebrated its 100th Anniversary recently.

The Vermont Air National Guard, 158th Fighter Wing, was scheduled to support the event to make the flyover a bi-national demo of air power, but due to a rain reschedule and mission requirements, only the two CF-18s from Bagotville were able to support the event.

The community was thrilled to be able to have a flyover for the event, and the NEADS First Shirt, Master Sgt. Danny Doucette, snapped a photo of the jets during their flyover, which is the cover photo for this issue. The fast-moving CF-18s are pictured below.

After the parade, volunteers from NEADS and other organizations helped clean up from the event.