The Sound of Freedom

While on a beautiful drive home from a day in Charleston, South Carolina, with my visiting parents, we happened to stop for gas outside the postcard-worthy southern town of Beaufort. At that moment, a thunderous noise blasted over top of us, followed in rapid succession by several more. As we looked up, we could see the state-of-the-art F-35B Lightning II fighter jets from the nearby Beaufort Marine Corps Air Station doing touch-and-go landings. 

The ground literally vibrated as these powerful fifth-generation jets passed overhead with an unmistakable roar.  We sat in awe of the sheer force it created and the incredible sight of one of the world’s most complex and technologically advanced planes ever created. As you drive by the main entrance to the Beaufort Marine Corp Air Station (MCAS) there is a sign outside the security gate that proudly says:

“THE NOISE YOU HEAR IS THE SOUND OF FREEDOM”

Beaufort is in the Port Royal Sound area. It is such a beautiful place that is steeped in history and known for its southern charm. The entire downtown area is designated as a historic district. In fact, the area has been used in Hollywood films like “Forrest Gump,” “The Big Chill,” “The Fugitive,” and “The Prince of Tides.” An article on the Enjoytravel.com website elaborates on the top movies and actual locations used:

“Hollywood discovered Beaufort with the filming of The Great Santini, released in 1979. It was based on the novel by longtime resident Pat Conroy, who’s still a fixture around town. Enough notable films — The Big Chill and Forrest Gump, among others — followed, to spark the creation of drive-by tours of on-location sites.”

We learned about the upcoming Beaufort MCAS Air Show and heard from local residents that it was a must-see event attended by 100,000 people. It takes a truly courageous and skilled team to put together a show of this magnitude, and after our first on-sight experience you could see the pride in everyone involved.  

“The mission of the MCAS Beaufort Air Show is three-fold: to promote the Marine Corps and Navy recruiting efforts, to demonstrate the full force and capabilities of our military and to say a big ‘THANK YOU’ to all of the members of the surrounding communities who support the men and women who serve this nation and are stationed at the Beaufort Air Station and in the Tri-Command area.”

Mission accomplished and then some! Based on the smiles we saw on the attendees, social media posts and the media reviews from the area, the show was a major success. It brought a much-needed spotlight to show more young people firsthand the opportunities and adventures that exist with our military and the aeronautics industry.

Admission and parking were free, so we anticipated crazy traffic delays based on our experiences attending Penn State football games with more than 100,000 passionate fans. We were very familiar with the entrance gate as we were headed to a friend from State College’s wedding in Charleston last September and blew a tire right outside that same gate. The Marine security and local police were on us before we knew it. 

Well, to our surprise, these folks did it right. The traffic and parking operation was outstanding. The speed at which they were able to move thousands of people in cars was impressive. Our gameday operations for PSU football could learn a thing or two about traffic flow and communication from these folks.

Once we entered through the very efficient security gates we observed a carnival-like atmosphere that was great for families and visitors. Lots of hands-on activities for kids, plenty of souvenirs, tours, flight simulators and a chance to get photos and autographs with the performing pilots. My wife and son even toured the cockpit and bay of the mighty C-17, the largest aircraft on display at the show. 

You could pay to take helicopter rides, get a VIP tour the Blue Angels “Fat Albert” plane, which is the C-130 Hercules that is the team’s maintenance and support aircraft, and you could even drive a high performance car down the runways between performances as part of the Precision Exotics Driving Experience. In your best Tom Cruise, “Top Gun” voice, can you say, “I feel the need, the need for speed!”

We toured the various “static” displays of vintage aircraft dating back to WWII all the way up to F-15s, F-16s, F-18s, F-22s and an assortment of helicopters of every kind. Then we stood back and watched as the F-35B, which is the Marine version of the futuristic aircraft that can do almost anything you need it to do, spar with a couple of F-18s, culminating in a simulated explosion of a downed enemy aircraft that wowed the massive crowd. 

One of the best parts of the show were the aerial acrobatics performers like Patty Wagstaff and Rob Holland. Patty is a six-time member of the U.S. Aerobatic Team and the first woman to win the title of U.S. National Aerobatic Champion (which she did three times). Rob Holland is the record-setting winner of eight consecutive U.S. National Aerobatic Championships. I felt a lump in my throat several times as they performed death-defying stunts and appeared to come within inches of crashing onto the ground. 

We had a primo location just a few rows back for the highlight performance of the famed U.S. Navy Blue Angels squadron. Watching them do their pre-flight preparations and working with their flight teams was so impressive. The coordination and the precision of what they do is mind-boggling to me. These are the best of the best and The Blue Angels have been Goodwill Ambassadors since 1946. These pilots and their planes that perform these intricate aerial acrobatics are so cool to watch in part because of the precise timing and the high velocity at which they perform. It was one of the most impressive events I’ve ever seen in person.

‘Freedom Is Not Free‘

Everywhere you looked at the Beaufort MCAS you saw dedicated Marines and their families, and proud veterans who have also served our country. It drives home the reminder that freedom is not free. It also highlights the fact that right now we are falling short of our military enlistment goals.

I bet you know a high school senior that isn’t sure what the next chapter of their life should look like. Instead of them automatically going to any college, anywhere, in any major, at any cost, with no real purpose or career objective in mind, perhaps you can suggest they consider serving their country in one of our military branches (Marines, Navy, Air Force,  Army, Space Force, or the Coast Guard). It may be just the start some young adults need to begin to get serious about their careers and one of the many benefits is getting college paid for either via ROTC or after their service. 

Our day at the Beaufort Marine Corps Air Station reminded me once again never to take our lifestyle for granted. There are many women and men who are serving the country to help us stay safe and continue to be “the land of the free and the home of the brave.” The next time you look overhead and hear a military plane or helicopter temporarily interrupting your quiet day, just remind yourself that the noise you hear is the sound of freedom.