{"id":9394,"date":"2021-03-30T00:56:58","date_gmt":"2021-03-30T04:56:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/?p=9394"},"modified":"2021-03-30T00:57:15","modified_gmt":"2021-03-30T04:57:15","slug":"local-frontline-hero-to-fly-with-blue-angels-at-sun-n-fun-2021","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/2021\/03\/30\/local-frontline-hero-to-fly-with-blue-angels-at-sun-n-fun-2021\/","title":{"rendered":"Local Frontline Hero to Fly with Blue Angels at SUN \u2018n FUN 2021"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

 The 47th annual SUN \u2018n FUN Aerospace Expo<\/a> is returning April 13-18 at Lakeland Linder International Airport, and organizers are excited to bring back the beloved Lakeland mainstay after it was canceled in 2020 due to COVID-19.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe know it has been a tough year for everyone, and having our event back is just fantastic,\u201d said John \u201cLites\u201d Leenhouts, President and CEO of SUN \u2018n FUN and the\u00a0Aerospace Center for Excellence (ACE)<\/a>. \u201cWe have a fantastic lineup of entertainment and education that will be a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone who attends. It\u2019s great to be back!\u201d Leenhouts committed that\u00a0COVID protocols<\/a>\u00a0will be in effect and that all CDC, state, and local guidelines would be followed for the week-long event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of Lakeland\u2019s signature annual events, SUN \u2018n FUN features hundreds of exhibitors, thousands of aircraft of all types, and daily airshows that feature everything from incredible civilian gyroscopic aerobatics to the awe-inspiring thunder of United States military aircraft demonstrations. This year, the show\u2019s headliners are the US Navy Blue Angels, C17 Demo, and USAF F22 Raptor Demo.

The\u00a0Blue Angels\u00a0<\/a>are making their very first public appearance using their new F18 Super Hornets, and the return of the crowd favorite Fat Albert in the team\u2019s newly acquired C130J Hercules transport. At each show the Blues attend, show organizers nominate a deserving individual from the local community for a special ride-along to acknowledge outstanding service.

This year, SUN \u2018n FUN officials partnered with\u00a0Lakeland Regional Health<\/a>\u00a0(LRH) and requested that someone from the front lines during the COVID crisis be rewarded with this honor.\u00a0

SUN \u2018n FUN Airshow Director and CMO Greg Gibson got the nomination from April Novotny, LRH Chief Nurse Executive and Vice President, Clinical Services. The deserving candidate choice was difficult as so many have served so heroically, but Medical Intensive Care unit manager Regina Wilkins stood out among her peers. The MICU has been the epicenter of care for the most critically ill COVID patients at LRH, and she has spent countless hours at the bedside, working days, nights, and weekends to support her team and our community. Regina will fly with Blue Angel #7 on Wednesday, April 14th during SUN \u2018n FUN.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n