Salute from Shore event inspires July 4 patriotism along SC coast
Hilton Head Island’s Coligny Beach teemed with red, white and blue on Saturday afternoon with thousands of visitors flocking to the island’s beaches to celebrate the Fourth of July.
Despite the myriad games, music and waves occupying beachgoers, however, the entire crowd roared together when the 6th annual Salute from the Shore flyover soared overhead.
About a dozen service members and veterans flew in the sixth annual event, a giant coastal shout out along South Carolina’s shoreline. This year’s event markeed the return of two F-16 Fighting Falcon jets from the 79th Fighter Squadron at Shaw Air Force Base in Sumter. Budget cuts kept the fighters out of the past two Salutes, which cover the length of South Carolina’s 300-mile coast, from Cherry Grove to Hilton Head Island.
Old with the new
The F-16s were joined by about 20 vintage aircraft on different legs of the flight, including such World War II classics as the F4U Corsair and a P-51 Mustang fighter planes. Also, Pat Waters, grandson of legendary World War II Gen. George Patton and a Mount Pleasant resident, piloted a Varga trainer.
The event is a tremendous way to honor veterans, said Anita Foster from behind red, white and blue sunglasses.
Foster and several friends come to Hilton Head each summer to vacation from all over South Carolina and Georgia. This year, they were easy to spot, with a beach tent covered in American flags and everyone donning patriotic sunglasses.
“When we heard about the flyover, we ran to grab our patriotic gear,” Foster laughed. “It feels good to be here like this. (The flyover) made me feel more patriotic.”
Dressing for the occasion
In ways big and small, visitors all across the beach brought their own patriotic flair — from flag bikinis and swim trunks to the tall red, white and blue sail on the boat offshore.
For 10-year-old twins Alek and Adam Clark, the day brought a surprise.
Their mom, Kristi, packed matching American flag swim trunks before they left their Pennsylvania home to vacation on Hilton Head this week. But they didn’t realize she’d also packed a pair for their dad, Tom.
“It’s just good fun,” Tom Clark said, laughing.
This story was originally published July 4, 2015 at 8:31 PM with the headline "Salute from Shore event inspires July 4 patriotism along SC coast."