‘Roar by the Shore’ features military aircraft at South Padre Island

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Hundreds of people were on South Padre Island on Sunday to experience the Roar by the Shore Air and Space Expo.

“One of our main missions was to put on an air show here in the valley that has never been done on this scale,” said event coordinator and air show director Miguel Sandoval.

Alfonso Garcia served four years in the Marine Corps. Garcia said he normally travels to Corpus Christi to watch air shows.

“It’s pure joy to have an airshow here so close to home,” Garcia said.

Garcia’s love for modern aircraft got him out on Sunday.

“They put on the Confederate air show in Harlingen. And from then on I fell in love with all these planes. Old, new, but modern planes. It’s amazing what they can do with our days,” Garcia said.

“There’s so much going on in this region and in South Texas, so it’s very important for America and the future of our country in terms of development and space,” said Joshua Gunderson, commander. of the F22 Raptor and Pilot demonstration. “It’s absolutely amazing.”

One of the expo’s goals was to help raise money for local nonprofits in the valley, including veterans’ groups that help pay for veterans’ futures.

“They contribute to military dependent students and they help pay for their education and tuition, and I think that’s really great,” Sandoval said.

The show’s organizers also wanted to help recruit into the military.

“Learn to be an engineer, learn to be a pilot, learn to be a mechanic, something that’s a good career choice,” said David Schultz, the airshow’s director of operations. “We desperately need them in this country.”

And although the exhibit is over in the Valley for now, they hope to bring it back next year.

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