The Thunderbirds, in Dayton to headline the Vectren Dayton Air Show June 22-23, signed autographs at the Fraze before the festivities began.
Lt. Gen. Robert D. McMurry Jr., Air Force Life Cycle Management Center commander, provided opening remarks recognizing people affected by the Memorial Day tornadoes and service members down range supporting national security taskings. He also acknowledged Gen. Arnold W. Bunch Jr., commander of Air Force Materiel Command.
Staff Sgt. Joanne Griffin, U.S. Air Force Band of Flight vocalist, sang the national anthem.
The award-winning Hometown Heroes program has evolved greatly, said Jeff Hoagland, president and CEO of the Dayton Development Coalition, which founded the series of events that have seen 40,000 tickets donated to Airmen and veterans from such organizations as the Dayton Dragons and Mandalay Sports Entertainment, Victoria Theatre Association, Dayton Art Institute, NCAA First Four and multiple sponsors.
“It is a thank-you for all they have done for our country and for our region. It is the least we can do,” Hoagland said.
Timing of the concert is deliberate, Hoagland said, so it coincides each year with AFLCMC’s Life Cycle Industry Days, the annual acquisition event that offers updates on key Air Force aircraft, systems and technology. This year’s concert was a bit more special due to the Thunderbirds’ appearance.
“That’s something we’ve never had before, and it is incredible,” he said. “Also, Chris Janson is a huge supporter of veterans and the military.
“This is a lot of things being brought together by a community that cares about Wright-Patterson Air Force Base,” Hoagland added.
J.P. Nauseef, former Dayton Development Coalition leader and current president and chief investment officer of JobsOhio, came to demonstrate his appreciation for the local military community and acknowledged the role Wright-Patterson AFB has.
“It’s the largest single-site employer in the state of Ohio and because of great community support and work done by local Airmen, it’s nearly doubled in size in economic impact during the last 15 years,” Nauseef said. “The mission Airmen perform at Wright-Patt is vital to national security so we as a community want to show our support for military families and also deployed service men and women.
“In Ohio we like to say we’re the epicenter of support for military families,” he said.
The main part of the evening was devoted to Janson, a multi-instrumentalist artist and songwriter who won a 2019 ACM Video of the Year award and is the youngest living member of the Grand Ole Opry.
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