Fort Campbell, KY – For many people the highlight of the Week of the Eagles has got to be the Fort Campbell Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation and Veterans of Foreign Wars Air Show. This aerial extravaganza event drew over 40,000 attendees to Campbell Army Airfield on Saturday.
Things kicked off with the opening ceremonies which consisted of the posting of the colors, and a welcome from Maj. Gen. James C. McConville, the Commanding General of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) and Fort Campbell, KY; followed by the National Anthem; and performances from the Liberty Jump Team and the 101st Airborne Parachute Demonstration Team, Army’s oldest Parachute Demonstration team
The air show didn’t skimp on showing off the military’s aerial power both historical and modern with a Dixie Commemorative Air Force demonstration, a C-45 (Beech 18) demonstration, Army Aviation Heritage Foundation Air Assault and Rescue at Dawn Re-enactment, a Trojan Horse demonstration, Air Force Flyovers including a B-2 Stealth Bomber, and an Air Assault demonstration by Screaming Eagles from the Sabalauski Air Assault School, the 159th Combat Aviation Brigade, and the 506th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, all of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault).
“I want to see some planes turning and going upside down,” said Spc. Sanchez Nelson, a 7th Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment automations shop Soldier told Sgt. Shanika Futrell of the 159th Combat Aviation Brigade’s Public Affairs Office. “I want to see them jumping out of the planes. I want to see it all.”
For those who needed to cool off or get out of the sun for a bit, the 2012 Week of the Eagles Health and Wellness Fair was going on at the Campbell Army Airfield Passenger Processing Center (PPC) featuring organizations that offer their services to soldiers and their families, as well as inflatables, cooking demonstrations, face painting, dance demonstrations, education and information tables and much more. Fill a punch card by visiting tables and win a prize!
The 101st had a static display of the vehicles which serve our soldiers well during their deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan including the life saving Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle (MRAP), the ubiquitous Hummer, various helicopters (CH47 Chinook, UH60 Blackhawk, OV58 Kiowa Warrior…), along with several other vehicles.
Earlier in the day, soldiers, families and friends of fallen warriors walked and ran in the 5th Annual Run for the Fallen at the Sabalauski Air Assault School. Runners wrote the names of their fallen loved ones on race bibs before the start of the race and those names were visible as participants crossed the finish line.
Photo Gallery
They say a picture speaks a thousand words, so I will let the image gallery tell you the rest of the story! Included in our gallery are also several great shots from Fort Campbell’s Public Affairs Office.
Photos are also available via the 101st Airborne Division Facebook page, the 159th Combat Aviation Brigade, “Thunder” Facebook page, 2nd Brigade Combat Team “STRIKE” facebook page, and the 4th Brigade, “Currahees” Facebook page.
Week of the Eagles Continues
Please www.fortcampbellmwr.com and click on the cover of the 2012 Fort Campbell Week of the Eagles Program and Activities Guide for more information on the remaining Week of the Eagles events including the free Kelly Clarkson concert tonight which IS OPEN to the surrounding communities.