Last summer, my RedState colleague Brad Slager shared a piece on how well the Fourth of July program went over when Fox News aired it while honoring our men and women in uniform and our nation on Independence Day. And you know the Navy’s Blue Angels took part, with a majestic flyover of our nation’s capital to cap it all off!

Despite air shows getting canceled in the coronavirus pandemic’s wake, the skilled aviators in our armed forces still need to hone their skills in top form. Now, the men and women of the Navy and the Air Force (in the form of their Thunderbirds) are saluting America’s frontline medical personnel — and first responders — and the rest of us are getting a free air show in the process.

The Aviationist reported on the full flyover schedule last week, which quoted an Air Force press release on how the first flyover would look:

“Flyovers in Newark, New York City and surrounding boroughs will start at noon (EST) and last approximately 35 minutes. Flyovers in Trenton will start at 1:45 p.m. (EST) and last approximately 10 minutes. Flyovers in Philadelphia will start at 2 p.m. (EST and last approximately 20 minutes.”

In a humorous way, the publication also shared this secret intel on how the “mission” with the Blue Angels and the Thunderbirds joining forces got started:

As The War Zone was among the first outlets to report, the U.S. premier aerial demonstration teams had flown a rare cooperative training event at the Blue Angels’ home base at NAS Pensacola in Florida in what appeared to be the one of the first signs of secretive preparations for some form of nation-wide morale-boosting event.

The Aviationist added that “[t]he Thunderbirds have already carried out a Las Vegas and a Colorado flyover to pay tribute to healthcare workers.”

In its press release, the Air Force also asked anyone sharing their videos of the flyovers to include the hashtag #AmericaStrong.

Previous joint flyovers have included New York, Newark and Trenton, New Jersey, and Philadelphia last Tuesday…

Tomorrow, the U.S. Air Force @AFThunderbirds and the U.S. Navy @BlueAngels will fly over Philadelphia to honor first responders and essential workers.

Please stay safe if you choose to peek outside to catch the display. Continue to follow social distancing guidelines. https://t.co/2SMdrKReX4

— Jim Kenney (@PhillyMayor) April 27, 2020

Philly

May be the best photo I have ever taken. Thank you @BlueAngels & @AFThunderbirds #AmericaStrong 🇺🇸✈️😷 pic.twitter.com/d77jMqUwkr

— Eileen Murphy (@emurphy7) April 28, 2020

Then, on Friday, between 3:10 and 3:30 MST, a friend captured the flyover of the Phoenix valley:

AMERICA. Thank you front line healthcare workers! pic.twitter.com/OBy2c1Tz3v

— Brandon (@PHXCards11) May 1, 2020

But the flyover moved back east and south on Saturday: across Georgia, Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia:

Today's the day! @BlueAngels, @AFThunderbirds to Salute Maryland, Washington D.C., Virginia, Georgia #COVID19 Responders. #AMERICASTRONG

Full Details ⬇️ https://t.co/R7GEVqWmY7 pic.twitter.com/RBW2IsMaRJ

— U.S. Navy (@USNavy) May 2, 2020

The Navy retweeted this stunning video of the Blue Angels’ flyover of Baltimore:

Thank you Health Heroes 🇺🇸💪 https://t.co/T3Zy6FP1rW

— U.S. Navy (@USNavy) May 2, 2020

But others captured what may be the pinnacle: the flight of these great, military machines over Washington, D.C. Here are just 11. Enjoy!

https://twitter.com/JustineAnnSand/status/1256615699423924227

A grateful nation salutes our capital health care soldiers. Amazing display of national unity and gratitude @AFThunderbirds & @BlueAngels! 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/SIzL1H4fAc

— Ken Farnaso (@KLF) May 2, 2020

#AmericaStrong flyover 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/8OAg5e4gK6

— Brianna McClelland (@BPMcClelland) May 2, 2020

View of @BlueAngels & @AFThunderbirds flyover over @SuburbanHosp @NIH in @MontgomeryCoMD outside DC, just down the street from @BCCRS pic.twitter.com/5iNguRfz4d

— Noah Gray (@NoahGrayCNN) May 2, 2020

Today the @AFThunderbirds and @BlueAngels did a special flyover over our Nation's Capitol to salute the frontline workers and medical professionals leading the fight against COVID19. #InThisTogether #AmericaStrong 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/fnflxK87jM

— The Senate Majority (@NRSC) May 2, 2020

What a gift to see the US Navy's Blue Angels and the Air Force's Thunderbirds ✈️ salute to essential workers 🙌🏾 #Americastrong 🇺🇸😍 pic.twitter.com/be7GHoyOgU

— Eva McKend (@evamckend) May 2, 2020

God bless the United States of America! Thank you @BlueAngels & @AFThunderbirds! 🇺🇸 #AmericaStrong pic.twitter.com/LMPizGvsy7

— Tiffany Haverly (@TiffanyHaverly) May 2, 2020

America! @BlueAngels @AFThunderbirds #LOCKDOWN2020 pic.twitter.com/oPl3EbUJ4j

— Ashe Schow (@AsheSchow) May 2, 2020

🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/18JmaoR4WC

— Elizabeth Harrington (@LizRNC) May 2, 2020

A salute to our amazing health care heroes & first responders!! Thank you @BlueAngels & @AFThunderbirds for this uplifting tribute! @GrayDCnews pic.twitter.com/UYJD7ztigl

— Alana Austin (@alana_austin) May 2, 2020

Whatever your opinion of how the pandemic is being handled where you live, it’s refreshing to just sit back and watch some badass pilots do their thing…

Tell me: is there anything better than this, America?

On a gorgeous spring day in DC, the @BlueAngels and @AFThunderbirds salute healthcare workers and first responders—like no one else can. pic.twitter.com/IqBeA0ZvEZ

— Chris Ortman (@ortmanc) May 2, 2020

Leave your thoughts in the comments section below. God Bless America!