Salute from the shore

Airmen with the 14th Airlift Squadron, Joint Base Charleston, S.C., fly a Charleston C-17 Globemaster III 500 feet above the shoreline from Myrtle Beach, S.C., to to Hilton Head Island, S.C., during the Salute from the Shore Flyover July 4, 2010. The C-17 flew 2,000 feet off the shoreline at low levels ranging from 500 to 1,000 feet. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. DeNoris Mickle)

Salute from the shore

Salute from the Shore

Airmen from the 14th Airlift Squadron participated in the first Salute from the Shore event held July 4, 2010, which involved a flyover of all South Carolina's beaches. This was the first Fourth of July Joint Base Charleston, S.C., has participated in where they flew over all South Carolina's major beaches ranging from Myrtle Beach, S.C., to Hilton Head Island, S.C., to honor military members and our nation's independence. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. DeNoris Mickle)

'Salute from the Shore' provides unique connection to troops

Published July 7, 2010
By 2nd Lt. Susan Carlson
Joint Base Charleston Public Affairs

JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Thousands of South Carolinians dressed in red, white and blue gathered along the coast stretching from Myrtle Beach to Hilton Head Island July 4 to "salute" Joint Base Charleston Airmen as they flew by. This year marked the first of what coordinators hope to be many Fourth of July Air Force flights down the eastern coast, honoring military members and our nation's independence.

The idea for the flight was initially proposed by two perfectly normal families from Columbia, S.C., the Smiths and the Folsoms, proving that all it takes is a good idea and a lot of determination to accomplish great things in the land of the free. Salute from the Shore was born from their initiative. The organization is a non-profit, non-partisan grassroots group of patriotic individuals, according to their press release. Their mission is to demonstrate South Carolina's public support to the troops for their sacrifice and ongoing mission protecting our nation's freedom.

Airmen from Joint Base Charleston's 14th Airlift Squadron took off from the air base and headed toward Myrtle Beach. Within 45 minutes, the aircraft flew over seven coastal cities including Myrtle Beach, Garden City, Pawleys Island, Sullivans Island, Edisto Beach, Beaufort and Hilton Head Island. Onlookers from all over the state gathered at the different beaches to show their support for the men and women of the Armed Forces who sacrifice daily to preserve and protect their freedom.

The C-17 flew just 2,000 feet off the shoreline at low levels between 500 and 1,000 feet. Salute from the Shore participants were encouraged to send their footage of the event to salute@salutefromtheshore.org to be posted for troops everywhere, at home and abroad, to see.

The event provided the opportunity for participants to connect in a unique and exciting way with the men and women serving our great nation.