Thunderbirds welcome, perform for Wounded Warrior Project veterans

Maj. Caroline Jensen, U.S. Air Force Thunderbird pilot, interacts with Wounded Warrior Project visitors during a meet and greet at Homestead Air Reserve Base, Fla., Nov. 2. Major Jensen is also the first female reservist demonstration pilot to be part of the Ambassador in Blue team. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Lou Burton)

Thunderbirds welcome, perform for Wounded Warrior Project veterans

Published Nov. 4, 2012
By Staff Sgt. Lou Burton
482nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs

HOMESTEAD AIR RESERVE BASE, Fla. -- As the 2012 Wings Over Homestead Air Show kicked-off, the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds F-16 demonstration met with 60 wounded warriors, veterans and disabled children during their practice day, Nov. 2.

The guests arrived from the Wounded Warrior Project, an organization dedicated to helping injured veterans returning from combat and their families. Visitors came to the base from the Miami Veterans Hospital, a military hospital servicing the needs of veterans, and Whispering Manes, a therapeutic horse-riding facility that services veterans and mentally disabled children.

After arriving, guests were ushered into a shaded distinguished visitor reception area where they enjoyed front-row seats to the high-flying acrobatics of the Thunderbirds team.

When the Ambassadors in Blue landed safely, the entire Thunderbirds team flooded the area to meet with the veterans and children. The demonstration team handed out personally autographed Thunderbird programs and posed for photos.

"This was a really great event for the veterans and children in our program," said Ms. Robin Bramson, Whispering Manes therapeutic riding instructor.

The Wounded Warrior Project serves military service members who incurred service-connected wounds, injuries, or illnesses on or after September 11, 2001 and their families, according to their website www.woundedwarriorproject.org.