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Air Show Makes Wishes Come True
(October 10, 2010) |
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| | MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. (MCN - 10/7/2010) — Thunder lit up
the sky and rain poured down all morning, but nothing could
dampen the mood of Make-A-Wish Day participants at the
flight line here Sept. 30. |
Marine Corps Air Station Miramar Air Show Make-A-Wish Day
organizers invited local Make-A-Wish beneficiaries, special
needs and terminally ill children, as well as their families
to enjoy a private air show and meet-and-greet with the Blue
Angels and Canadian Snowbirds pilots.
Active duty families with special needs children who receive
treatment at the Naval Medical Center San Diego, the “Balboa
Kids,” also participated in the day's festivities.
The Armed Services YMCA, which operates out of NMC San Diego
and organizes Balboa Kids events, joined forces with
Make-A-Wish to bring children and families together for the
air show.
Grinning children and their families were shuttled into a
large, relatively dry tent on |
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MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif.-Anthony and Izeah Ashley, local San Diegans, meet U.S. Navy Lt. Rob Kurrle,
Flying Blue Angels No. 3, at Make-A-Wish Day
here Sept. 30, 2010. Participants watched the
Blue Angels and the Snowbirds practice their air
show routines and then met the pilots for
autographs and pictures. |
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the flight line to get a center stage view of
the Blue Angels and Snowbirds practicing their
air show routines. |
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Participants enjoyed a large buffet of pizza and pasta while
watching the show and painting each other's faces at the
arts and crafts table.
Following the demonstrations, the Blue Angels and the
Snowbirds joined event participants for autographs and
pictures.
“It's a time to be together, not at the hospital, doing
something fun,” said Suzanne Albert, director of program
services for Make-A-Wish. |
MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif.-Gavin, Diego and Gael Olmedo
pose with Capt. Ben Blanton, a Blue Angels Fat Albert pilot, at
Make-A-Wish Day here Sept. 30, 2010. |
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The Make-A-Wish event, held one day before the start of the
air show, allowed the participants to enjoy the show without
the hectic crowds and traffic.
“A lot of these families wouldn't bring their kids to the
public air show,” Albert explained. The closed venue meant
the families could enjoy an air show without the crowds that
can be stressful for special needs children.
“This is a great morale boost for the kids,” said Alysha
Dugo, associate program director for the Armed Services YMCA
at Naval Medical Center San Diego.
“It's great, it's awesome. Finally some VIP treatment,” said
Staff Sgt. David L. Gnann, an armory chief with 2nd
Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment. Gnann's son, Jacob, enjoyed
the show from the “back stage” for the first time.
Albert explained that as event organizers, Make-A-Wish and
Armed Services YMCA only do part of the work to make days
like this happen.
“We as an organization don't do anything. The Marines do
everything. Literally all we do is bring the families,” said
Albert.
“You guys [Marine Corps Air Station Miramar] reached out to
us,” added Dugo.
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Station Marines invited both organizations and arranged both
the buffet and the social time with the Snowbirds and Blue
Angels.
The bright mood of the Make-A-Wish Day participants lit up
the flight line and provided a positive start to the Miramar
Air Show. |
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Article and photos by LCpl. Lisa M. Tourtelot
Marine Corps Air Station Miramar
Copyright 2010 | |
Reprinted from
Marine Corps News
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