Fighter jets to fly over Memorial Day celebration

By Jeff Pope

Friday, May 22, 2009 | 3:59 p.m.

Four F-15 fighters from Nellis Air Force Base will fly over Southern Highlands as part of that community’s seventh annual Memorial Day celebration.

The ten-minute flyover begins at 6 p.m. on Monday at Stonewater Park, at the intersection of Southern Highlands Parkway and Valley View Boulevard. The planes will fly 1,000 feet above the ground while the Honor Guard from Nellis presents the colors.

The event also includes an All-American BBQ with drinks and beer and music by the UNLV Summer Concert Band.

Kids will have plenty to do at the water-themed “Kids Zone,” which will include water slides, a bounce house, a dunk tank, carnival games, face painters, balloon artists and snacks. Prizes and will be awarded to carnival game winners.

Raffle tickets will be sold for the opportunity to win a great prizes such as shopping sprees, Wii systems, digital camera and the grand prize — a 32-inch flat-screen television.

All proceeds from the raffle will benefit Operation Warm Heart, a Nellis charity created to assist Air Force members and their families with immediate financial support when other resources are not available. The money may be used to cover things such as housing, medical expenses, food and other necessities.

The night ends with a fireworks show starting at 8:15 p.m.

The Southern Highlands’ Memorial Day celebration is free and open to the public. It begins at 5.30 p.m. Tickets must be purchased for food and the raffle.