Andy Crout-Hammel descends with a 2,500 square foot American Flag to the peninsula on Venetian Island, Lake Wawasee. (Photo by Ollievia Sigsbee)
Despite an hours delay, due to arrival of a Cessna 182 coming from the Plymouth Parachute Group, to Nappanee Airport, the hundreds who came by boat, watched by land on the peninsula on Venetian Island and from their homes on Ogden Point Road and other areas, stayed and awaited the return of the Elite Frogs Parachute Team.
This year’s Patriots Day at Wawasee was a shortened version from years past, the four-man jump team didn’t disappoint those watching.
Prior to the jumps, the crowd was awed by the aerial fly overs by two T34 Hooligans from the Hooligan Flight Team, lead by Russ McDonald, Nappanee. This team can be seeing making fly overs for NASCAR Races as well as for Veterans across the United States. The team will also be at Nappanee on Sept. 20.
The afternoon jump began with the demonstration jump with Senior Chief Larry Barbara, the one active seal on the team and Nick Swank performing a bi-plane. The bi-plane is where one jumper stands on the shoulders of the other. Once the bi-plane was broken apart, the two unfurled a 200 square foot Seal Trident, the insignia of the Navy Seals.
While these two were descending the Cessna circled and climbed back to jumping altitude for the American Flag jump by Andy Crout-Hammel videoed by J.C. Ledbetter. The American flag measured 2,500 square feet. The team members combined have over 23,500 jumps.
Retired Master Chief Herschel B. Davis was master of ceremonies explaining the demonstration jump and provided information not only on the team members, but the Navy Seal Foundation. He was introduced by Bud Stickle, founder of the Wawasee Seal Foundation and coordnator of the day’s events.
The group, formed by Chuck Janicki a former Navy Seal, is comprised of those who have had at least five years experience on the Navy Parachute team, the “Leap Frogs.” Some members of the team have retired from the Navy with over 20 years of service.
Each member is highly qualified in various aspects of skydiving. Combined the team has over 100 years of parachuting experience, together with a total of over 30,000 jumps.
The Navy Seal Foundation provides services to Seal member families outside of government assistance: scholarship for children, computers for children to use in school and collage and working with other wounded warrior foundation. Funds raised by the Wawasee Seal Foundation are donated to the national foundation.
The days events concluded shortly after 10 p.m. with a pyrotechnic jump including fireworks, with just as many watching from the Johnson’s Bay and surrounding areas as the day jump.
Plans are already underway for next year’s Patriots Day at Lake Wawasee. The date will be announced once plans are finalized.
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