Drill Team participates in Canadian air show

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Christopher Ruano
  • Air Force District of Washington Public Affairs
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada --  More than 20,000 Canadians came to the annual Cameco Canada Remembers International Festival for Heroes Air Show in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, Aug. 6 and 7, featuring a performance by the U.S Air Force Honor Guard Drill Team.

The event also featured performances by several Canadian aerial demonstration teams, including the Sky Hawks parachuting team, the CF-18 Hornets and the Snowbirds.

"The Drill Team was certainly key to the opening ceremonies," said Canadian Forces Brig. Gen. Eldren Thuen, deputy commander of Mission Support One Canadian Air Division. "I believe the Drill Team brought something important to the air show that would have been lacking had they not been here."

The first Canada Remembers International Festival for Heroes Air Show was held 17 years ago with the intent of honoring Canadian armed forces veterans past and present, as well as those of its allies.

"Our goal here was to honor all those who have given their lives defending freedom past and present through the pride and precision exemplified by the U.S. Air Force Honor Guard Drill Team," said Master Sgt. Nathan Todd, Drill Team flight chief. "I feel that through our performance here, we succeeded in doing that."

Service members on both sides felt that the event was a resounding success.

"Any time we have the opportunity to work with the United States armed forces, we always get excited," said Canadian Forces Capt. Marc Velasco, 431st Air Demonstration Squadron, public affairs officer. "It's great to see the joint relationship we share. We come from different countries, yet we are very similar in many ways in the profession of arms."