Spectacular air maneuvers, impressive ground displays featured at Shop ‘n Save Westmoreland Airshow

Army Air Corps veteran Leslie Immel Sr. was honored in the sky Saturday, the same place he spent a lot of time during World War II.

His son, Leslie Immel Jr. of Hempfield, watched as a World War II-era aircraft carrying the trifold flag from his father’s 2013 funeral buzzed past fluffy white clouds at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport in Unity.

“It’s just a small tribute to my dad,” he said. “It’s just amazing, and I’m very happy.”

Immel’s flag was one of 20 that were loaded aboard a T-6 aircraft and flown over the Shop ‘n Save Westmoreland Airshow in the inaugural Flight of the Flags. Families of the veterans dropped off their flags, some with notes about the veteran’s service and a couple with photos. Volunteers kept watch over them, gently loading the flags into and out of the plane.

Volunteer Valetta Mowry of Unity said the opportunity was meaningful for the families, and many were choked up by the posthumous honor.

Thousands of spectators streamed into the air show Saturday, some setting up their chairs in grassy areas and others milling about at static displays, often turning their faces upward as vintage warplanes and high-powered fighter jets raced around the sky. Noisy demonstrations from Navy F-18 Super Hornet and Air Force F-16 Viper captivated the audience.

The event will continue Sunday, with gates opening at 10 a.m.

The Flight of the Flags originated with Brian Safran of the Cleveland area a few years ago and since has spread to air shows in several states. Safran helped the Westmoreland volunteers Saturday with their first event.

“Every time I’ve ever seen one of these flags, I’m looking down at it,” he said, such as when it is folded and handed to family members at a funeral. “This is the first time I’ve ever looked up at those flags.”

The flight was an emotional moment for Robert Basinger of Freedom, who volunteered with the event. His father, Jason Basinger, served with the Army in France during World War I. The trifold flag from that era — which has 48 stars — was given to him by family members 15 years ago.

Basinger wiped away tears while clutching the flag after the flight. Jason Basinger died in 1935 in a vehicle crash when Robert was 3 years old.

Immel’s father flew in a chase plane behind the Enola Gay, the first aircraft to drop an atomic bomb during warfare. Its target in 1945 was Hiroshima, Japan.

“He didn’t like talking too much about things,” Immel said.

The flag will return to its place in a curio cabinet at Immel’s home alongside his father’s World War II veteran ballcap and a plane replica.