SYLACAUGA, Ala. – Maxwell Air Force Base conducted a fly-over for ten cities in the state of Alabama today, one of those being Sylacauga, honoring first responders and front-line hospital workers.
According to the 908th Airlift Wing’s Facebook Page, Alabama’s only U.S. Air Force reserve wing, two C-130 Hercules aircraft took off from Montgomery around 11:00 a.m. this morning and began their flight around the state.
Local veteran Lt. Col. Rodney Trammell is the man who made it all happen. He made the call to Maxwell AFB and convinced the base to fly over Sylacauga to pay respect to Coosa Valley Medical Center (CVMC).
“I think this shows respect, and my daughter works at the emergency room, so I helped coordinate this for her and all the other brave hospital workers,” said Trammell. “It acknowledges all that they have done, even the police and firefighters.”
“This is incredibly important because it really pays tribute to the healthcare workers,” said retired physician Vinton Crawford, who was watching the fly-over. “I feel guilty saying that having been a physician and not on the front line, but I certainly take my hat off to those who are, and this is wonderful for the city of Sylacauga.”
The nine other cities flown over today were Montgomery, Tuscaloosa, Muscle Shoals/Florence, Decatur, Huntsville, Birmingham, Auburn, Troy and Selma.
“I would especially like to thank the men and women of Maxwell Air Force Base for their fearless service to our country,” said Coosa Valley Medical Center President and CEO Glenn Sisk. “Today’s fly over honoring the team of providers at CVMC is deeply meaningful. It strikes me that the courage, commitment and selflessness extended to our patient population during this pandemic is not dissimilar to these same characteristics demonstrated by members of our United States military. Our community and our country are tremendously blessed to have such strong individuals doing this noble and heroic work every day.”
Video of the fly-over is posted below: