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LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. — Luke Days 2024 is complete! Hundreds of thousands of people visited Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, for airshow weekend March 23-24, 2024.
Attendees took in the sights of the many static displays, air performers and the installation itself, experiencing the U.S. Air Force first-hand. Performers like the Thunderbirds, F-35A Lightning II Demo Team and Folds of Honor soared over Luke AFB from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day, demonstrating their mastery of flight maneuvers and operations.
“There are so many moving parts,” said Tech. Sgt. Cody Burnett, 56th Civil Engineer Squadron fire and emergency services assistant chief of operations. “We’re getting everything together. It’s going to be an amazing time for the community as a whole.”
But the Thunderbirds weren’t the only ones putting on a show. Luke AFB’s community partners could be found across Luke Days, including, but not limited to the Glendale and Goodyear Police Departments, Glendale Fire Department, Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, Arizona Counter Terrorism Information Center, Mesa Fire and Medical, The Hall of Flame Museum of Firefighting, the Lt. Frank Luke Jr. Museum, and the Blue Star Moms of the Southwest Valley.
“It’s spectacular, we haven’t been here since 2018,” said Joshua Clark, Phoenix PD reserve division operations sergeant. “Without the Luke (56th) Security Forces Squadron, we wouldn’t be here today. They’re a great partner both during the airshow and the other 363 days of the year.”
Community partners are vital to the mission in many ways. Local law enforcement works with the 56th SFS to protect and serve the community on and off base, including ensuring security for Luke Days 2024. Glendale and Maricopa County Emergency Management collaborated with Luke AFB to implement the Wireless Emergency Alert system for potential mass communication.
The Luke AFB Fire Department operates and trains with local fire departments on a regular basis, sharpening each other’s skills and handling emergencies as a united force.
“Happy to be here,” said Adam Ellis, Glendale FD emergency services division chief. “It’s good to see all the outside agencies working in a collaborative effort. Outside the airshow, we try to interact as much as we can to stay on the same page.”
Museums, like the Lt. Frank Luke Jr. Museum, preserve the heritage of Luke AFB and its local community. They provided static historical displays, such as WWII era helicopters and vehicles, for viewing on the flight line. Additionally, the Phoenix Symphony sent a brass ensemble to perform the National Anthem at opening ceremonies for each morning to kick off the biennial event.
Luke AFB leadership greatly appreciates the support of the local communities and community partners that support in their day-to-day.
“Our community partners have been integral in this process,” said Lt. Col. Shawn Walsh, Luke Days 2024 airshow director. “It felt natural to include organizations that we work with every day. Luke AFB has been in the valley since 1941 and they’ve been with us every step of the way. Their support for this airshow has been a testament to our enduring relationship.”
The 56th Fighter Wing thanks their community partners for the continued coordination with Luke AFB and for their participation at Luke Days 2024. Our unwavering partnerships with the community are key to training the world’s greatest fighter pilots and combat-ready Airmen.
| Date Taken: | 03.28.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 04.01.2024 11:08 |
| Story ID: | 467424 |
| Location: | LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, ARIZONA, US |
| Web Views: | 75 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, LUKE DAYS 2024: Community Partners, by SSgt David Busby, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
