The Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets is proud to partner with the 6th Airlift Squadron, part of the 305th Air Mobility Wing at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., who will conduct a military flyover with a C-17A Globemaster III during the National Anthem prior to the Virginia Tech versus Arkansas State University football game on Saturday, Sept. 17. 

The flyover is in honor of the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets Homecoming and Virginia Tech’s Military Appreciation Day. Cadets will be collecting for the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, Va., at all entry gates to Lane Stadium prior to kickoff.

The flyover is expected barring weather or operational factors. Scheduled as crew on the aircraft are the Aircraft Commander Lt. Col. Doug Hall, U.S. Air Force, Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets Class of 1992 who earned a degree in political science from the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences in 1992; Mission Pilot Capt. Zach Walrond, U.S. Air Force, Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets Class of 2005 who earned a degree in mechanical engineering from the College of Engineering and a minor in mathematics from the College of Science as well as a minor in leadership studies from the Maj. Gen. W. Thomas Rice Center for Leader Development in 2006; and First Pilot 1st Lt. Purvis “PC” Gaddis, U.S. Air Force, Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets Class of 2009 who earned a degree in sociology from the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences and a minor in leadership studies from the Maj. Gen. W. Thomas Rice Center for Leader Development in 2009.

The aircraft is planning to land in Roanoke after the flyover. The crew will join the Corps of Cadets in the stands and will also be introduced from the field during the game.

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