A total of twelve U.S. Navy Blue Angels and Air Force Thunderbirds jets executed a flyover, in our area, on the afternoon of April 28th, as a tribute to coronavirus medical workers and emergency first responders.

On a rare blue sky, mild, April day, people came out of their homes to witness the flyover and get some badly needed fresh air. The flyover was performed over a number of cities in four states, including New York City and Long Island, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware. The show included FA-18 Super Hornets and F-16 Fighting Falcons that soared over the states.

This was the first leg of a nationwide tour, dubbed “Operation American Strong.”

Many people, equipped with cameras and video equipment, assembled along Boulevard East, in Weehawken, including mobile media trucks. Hamilton Park is a well known location for tourists to take photos of the New York skyline. On weekends, there are usually several wedding parties taking photos with the tall buildings for a background.

Police closed off the major artery, leading to the Lincoln Tunnel, during the flyover. Besides media trucks, numerous BLS and ALS units were on hand. Weehawken police covered the area and passed out masks to anyone who did not possess one.

The crowd along this path had a chance to witness, and photograph, the jets as they flew down the Hudson River from the George Washington Bridge. Later, they came back around and over again from Teterboro and then were seen behind the Manhattan skyline, headed up the East River.

Photographers, with long lenses on their cameras, conversed and kept an eye on their watchers and in the sky for their photo ops.

A bit of relief for residents to get their mind off of virus related issues, and a showing of respect for those who are putting themselves on the line to beat this invisible enemy.