‘Astounding’ work by health care workers saluted in military flyover
The fighter jets roar in statewide thank-you to COVID-19 front-line heroes
They wore masks and other personal protection equipment and stayed a distance away from one another while gathering on the rooftop of the Kaiser Permanente Richmond Medical Center building Wednesday morning. About 80 health care workers of all types came to look at the sky and give their spirits a pickup.
Down below, on ground level, about 100 more health care workers gathered to hear the roar.
Four fighter jets from the California Air National Guard buzzed over them from about 2,000 feet around 10:45 a.m. during a flyover — part of a statewide tribute from the military to health care workers, first responders and others who have been on the front line of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I’m thrilled for this to be happening,” Dr. Benjamin Bonnes of Kaiser Richmond said of the scene, which also played out in Oakland — with that city’s famous Golden Mean snail also taking part — and Santa Clara and Monterey.
“I work with an amazing group of people here, and the amount of dedication people have been throwing to this COVID-19 response is astounding.”
The four F-15C Eagle fighter jets began their flyover around 10 a.m. and covered areas of both Northern and Southern California. In Sacramento, the jets did a low-pass flyover at the state Capitol building, the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, and the California Highway Patrol Academy.
The gesture did not go unnoticed.
“Emotional is how I feel,” said Leticia Palomares, a senior medical assistant in the medicine department at Santa Clara Kaiser, which the jets also buzzed. “Also, blessed to be here helping others with my staff.”
Palomares said a doctor at the hospital reminded others there of the flyover, to “make sure they know” how much they’ve been appreciated by the public during this time.
Medical facilities in Monterey, Sacramento, Merced, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Bakersfield, Clovis, Reedley, Selma and Madera also received the same treatment.
The pilots fly out of the 144th Fighter Wing in Fresno, spokesman Senior Master Sgt. Chris Drudge said.
Bonnes, the doctor at Kaiser Richmond, said he had prior military experience and that he interpreted the flyover as a means to show health care workers and others they haven’t been forgotten.
“I’m glad to merge my military and civilian worlds,” he said, “and to have some of my good friends from my fighter squadron showing everyone that we’re thinking about them and what we’re doing here is important.”
In Oakland, the mobile snail that has escorted Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf and celebrities such as Jay Leno and MC Hammer, shot rings of fire.
The flyover also was saluted on social media with hashtages such as #144FW, #AmericaStrong and #CalGuard.
In the end, it was the workers looking up who wanted to offer their gratitude.
“A huge thanks to #CalGuard for their flyover today,” Santa Clara Kaiser said on Twitter. “A jet salute to our #HealthcareHeroes working to save our patients lives. Big time appreciation to the pilots and crews of #144w.”