Photo courtesy the Rhode Island National Guard
By Steve Klamkin WPRO News
The Rhode Island National Guard Thursday cancelled the annual 2013 Open House and Air Show at Quonset Air National Guard base, citing rules set forth after the automatic cuts to the federal budget. The cancellation follows the suspension earlier this week by the show's prime attraction, the Navy's Blue Angels, also due to the budget cuts.
“Under the current guidelines of sequestration outlined by the Department of Defense, all scheduled military demonstrations and static displays in addition to the Blue Angels are restricted from participation in events such as our Open House and Air Show,” Major General Kevin McBride, Adjutant General and Commanding General of the Rhode Island National Guard said in a statement.
"We understand that there's going to be a lot of disappointed people out there and we truly regret that," said Major Christopher Peloso, Executive Officer and spokesman for the Rhode Island Air National Guard's 143rd Airlift Wing.
"We're going to plan for a 2014 show. That's our intent, to open our gates again in a year to the public, and we would welcome them back in 2014," said Maj. Peloso.
