A Magical Extraordinary Dream

SFC JD Berentis Gold Demonstration Team Leader flies in the Army Strong Parachute

The Gold Demonstration Team, led by SFC JD Berentis headed out for Gary Airport in preparation for their practice show performance for the annual Chicago Air and Water Show. Mean while SFC Elliot conducted a Tandem Instruction class for some very important passengers.

The platform was perfect and enormous puffy white clouds filled the majestic royal blue sky. Today was a totally new adventure for three individuals who accepted a challenge and a unique once in a lifetime opportunity.

SSG Watts jumping the POW Flag

The show began with the narrator, SSG Steve Robinson gracefully flying in to a dead center landing followed by SSG Noah Watts who once again proudly flew in the POW flag.

SSG Ryan Ray flies in the Army Strong Flag

Watts took the microphone and gave a brief biography about the gentleman who was about to headline this jump and noted that it was an extreme honor to have made his acquaintance.

Nicholas Zaglifa an  eighty-eight year old World War II veteran paratrooper was escorted through the skies of the Windy City on a tandem parachute jump with SFC Michael Elliott, Tandem Team leader. Zaglifa was part of the D-Day invasion and was awarded two Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star for his valor. Elliot gently maneuvered his beautiful black and gold canopy in front of the boat house for a magnificent stand up landing right into the show center.  Zaglifa had a huge smile as he was gliding in and said that he loved the jump as he removed his helmet revealing a snow white head of hair.

SGM Young greeted Mr Zaglifa

Nicks Family excitedly wait for his jump

Kathy and Nikki, two of his five children along with grandchildren and friends anxiously awaited his arrival. Nikki, his name sake said, she was really concerned about her father jumping, but felt at ease when I told her that SFC Elliot had jumped former President George H.W. Bush, Vie Cowden a ninety-one year old WASP and numerous other young senior citizens.  Nikki said,”I know this is the highlight of his eighty-eight years of life.”

Sgm Young and Nick greet his family after his jump

Petty Officer Sue Striedl celebrated her four year reenlistment with a tandem jump

SSG Steve Robertson,narrator for practice show

It was also, a day never to forget for US Navy Petty Officer Sue Striedl. Striedl an Air Framer and Structural Maintenance Tech, reenlisted for four years, two and a half miles above the sizzling hot shores of Lake Michigan.

SSG Figel filmed Petty Officers reenlistment

Lieutenant Commander Amy Tomlinson, Blue Angel number eight conducted the reenlistment ceremony on the Golden Knights C31 Friendship Fokker piloted by “Team Six’s,” CW4 Ronald Turner and CW4 Dan Madorski.