TAMPA, Fla. — A huge crowd turned out for Tampa Bay Airfest this weekend. Organizers estimated more than 150,000 people would attend the event, which has been put on by MacDill Air Force Base for 80 years.
This year's Airfest will be the last one until at least 2027, due to construction of a new hangar on the base. Before the first planes took off on Saturday, four World War II veterans were honored for their service.
Between the four men, there are hundreds of years of history.
“I never expected this," Daniel Keel said. "Matter of fact, I never expected to be here anyhow. 101 years old, I never expected to be alive at 101 years old and now it’s fantastic.”
Keel is one of the few Tuskegee Airmen still alive. He was able to rise the ranks and become triple-rated, but it wasn't an easy journey.
“I ran into all kinds of obstacles," Keel said. "You name it, I ran into it. I ran into a lieutenant colonel who didn’t like Black people and made it miserable for me.”
Keel and his fellow veterans said they're grateful for the lessons they learned during service.
“We were successful because one, we all had a good education," he said. "Second, we had excellent training. Three, we had an excellent leader and four we all have valor.”
The men hoped they were able to pass along their wisdom to visitors at Airfest, especially the youngest ones.
“They’re our future," said veteran O'Neil Ducharme. "Let me tell you, they are bright. I think looking forward we’re going to be in good hands.”
Toni Schuck, the Florida Highway Patrol Trooper who moved her vehicle into the path of a drunk driver during the Skyway 10K in 2022, was also honored as a community hero.