The Wandering Disciple

A deputy from the Lee County Sheriff's Office marshals in a US Navy helicopter during the American Heroes Air Show. Held at JetBlue Park in 2013, the American Heroes Air Show is a one of a kind helicopter only airshow featuring helicopters from local law enforcement, military, government and civilian operators.  Founded in 1996, the American Heroes Air Show mission is to showcase the dynamic capabilities of rotary-wing aircraft. Since then it has been used as a recruiting tool for the heroes of the show as well as an immigration and naturalization platform. The show occurs yearly in a different location. The 2024 show is scheduled for Los Angeles.  Taken: January 19, 2013 at JetBlue Park (Fort Myers, FL)

A deputy from the Lee County Sheriff's Office helps direct traffic in the sky as helicopters land on the field at JetBlue Park for the American Heroes Air Show. Taking place around the country, the American Heroes Air Show pays tributes to law enforcement, emergency services and military. It is unique in that it is one of the few airshow events to feature just helicopters. (Photo: January 19, 2013)

After serving the citizen of New York City, retired Rescue 5 now travels the country to help remember the 343 fallen firefighters on September 11.  Rescue 5 hails from Staten Island but on September 11, it answered the call to the World Trade Center.  At the end of that fateful event, eleven firefighters from Rescue 5 lost their lives among the 343 firefighters killed in the terrorist attack.  After the rig was decommissioned in 2011,  it became the centerpiece of the Remembrance Rescue Project, a non-profit charity that travels the country to continue the legacy of these brave firefighters. (Photo: January 19, 2013)

A helicopter from the Department of Homeland Security lands at the American Heroes Air Show.  The AS-350 photographed here is used primarily for city operations and is one of the many aviation resources available for the Customs and Border Protection.  (Photo: January 19, 2013)

A law enforcement officer guides a US Navy helicopter in for a landing at the American Heroes Air Show. The show is a one a kind event featuring helicopter from law enforcement, military and the private sector. Click on the photo to view my American Heroes Air Show photo gallery . (Photo: January 19, 2013)

Rescue 5 of the Remembrance Rescue Project sits on display at the American Heroes Air Show. Rescue 5 was an active rescue in the FDNY and responded to the 9/11 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center. Eleven of the twelve squad members lost their life in the attack. Today the rescue travels the country as part of the Remembrance Rescue Project to Educate, Honor and Remember those who lost their lives on that day. (Photo: January 19, 2013)

Fort Myers, Florida: Baseball is still a month away but JetBlue Park came to life Saturday thanks to the American Heroes Air Show. The sights and sounds of helicopters ranging from the small Robinson R-22 to as large a MH-60 Nighthawk dazzled the crowd. As the early morning fog began to lift, the helicopters began to appear on the horizon. They started out slow, one at a time. But that quickly gave way to a flurry of activity. At one point, there were four helicopter in various stages of arrival. In a controlled chaos, members of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Civil Air Patrol worked hard to put each helicopter in their place. Once everyone was in place, the gates were opened to the public. Masses rushed to the field to get an up close view of the helicopters. You could see the excitement in the faces of the visitors as they looked inside their favorite helicopters or swapped stories with the pilots of their favorite one. The roll call for the event was...