Thunderbirds Help Mark Veterans' Day

The appearance of theU.S. Air Force Thunderbird F-16s helped attract the massive crowd,according to officials.

The Thunderbirds, based at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, dazzlespectators with close formation acrobatic maneuvers that are designed toshow the fighter jet's capabilities.

Periodically, a communal "ooooohhhh" rose from spectators as theyappreciated a particularly intricate movement, executed in unison.

Also on hand Sunday was the fly-by of a B-2 Stealth bomber, thatdemonstrated its stealth by being virtually whisper quiet -- until it wasmoving away from the crowds.

Kids enjoyed the day, too. They got to peer into cockpits, and somelucky ones even sat in front of the controls -- whose size and complexityvirtually dwarfed the youngsters. Still, they could imagine soaringthrough the clouds like the military they were saluting with theirpresence.

Apache attack helicopters and the enormous C-130 Hercules cargo planewere also brought out for the show, and paratroopers parachuted from cargoplanes. In a nearby area, soldiers explained uses of various weapons thatwere on display.

"An open house like this gives the general public a chance to see whatgoes on at a military installation so they can understand more of what themilitary is about," said John Birk, of Pinehurst.