Blue Angels

Ninety-eight days down. Two to go. Memory 99/100:

My favorite event of the year. The one that rumbles the roads, closes the highway, and shocks a city. The Blue Angels!

People pour into Annapolis, starting in the morning, in anticipation for the event. But I shouldn’t get ahead of myself. I’ll recall my first exposure.

I was in my room, barely a Plebe No More, (post-Herndon,) cleaning my stuff (because Gunny was going through for an inspection,) and I heard a roar cut through the air. I ran to the window, and I saw the beautiful blue streak of the F-18 Hornet skim over Bancroft. I was standing on the top floor, so I the pilot’s head was at eye level. It was the day before the official Blue Angel’s performance—a yearly tradition in the excitement of commissioning week. I hadn’t expected this treat. The flying wonders glued me to my window for the following two hours as they practiced their maneuvers.

Today I was able to enjoy the show with many of my family. We had eighteen people total! We sat on the field inside of Ingram Track. I smiled for most of the time, and I couldn’t help but laugh as the little kids screamed and covered their ears each time the planes were especially loud. Although I think little Cami enjoyed the noise at times.

I never see the Yard as packed full of people throughout the year as it is during the Blue Angels show. If you ever get a chance to see them, I highly recommend it. They have about an hour routine, where they do dazzling aerobatics, sometimes while being as close as eighteen inches to each other. Nothing motivates me like the speed, noise, and power of those great machines. They zoom past at 500 mph, then split into the sky, disappearing out of sight. It’s truly inspiring.

Go Navy!