File photo by Steve Klamkin, WPRO News.
By Carolyn Cronin and Kim Kalunian, WPRO News
The Blue Angels, the U.S. Navy’s flight demo squad, announced Tuesday that they would be cancelling all public engagements for the remainder of 2013 – this includes their highly-anticipated appearance at the Rhode Island National Guard Open House Air Show in June.
“Potentially we are looking at cancelling the air show,” Major Chris Peloso, spokesman for the Rhode Island National Guard told WPRO Tuesday.
Peloso said the air show committee is looking into alternative options, and should have a concrete decision made within two or three days. He said they are also considering having another type of community event this summer.
The cancellation is the result of broad-based federal budget cuts known as The Sequester.
“We understand the current financial situation that the United States is in,” said Peloso.
Despite the news, Peloso said morale is still high, and budget cuts have not affected the National Guard’s readiness or ability to support contingency tasks.
