Secretary Of The Army, Former Team Members Gather At Fort
Bragg
The Golden Knights, the US Army's official parachute
demonstration team, kicked off their 50th anniversary this wek
during a special ceremony that celebrated the team's half century
of serving the country as Army ambassadors while also representing
more than one million American Soldiers.
"Fifty years ago, the Golden Knights were established to compete
in the sport of parachuting," said Lt. Gen. Benjamin Freakley,
Commanding General of US Army Accessions Command. "Today, they are
just one example of the many unique and interesting career
opportunities available in the US Army... The Golden Knights of the
Army Parachute Team represent the best of our Army: noncommissioned
officers, technically superior soldier-athletes who daily
demonstrate the Army values."
The history of the Golden Knights has its roots firmly in the
Cold War. Formed in 1959 as a Strategic Army Corps Sport Parachute
Team, the Golden Knights' initial purpose was to compete in the
then communist-dominated sport of free-fall parachuting. The team
performed so well that on June 1, 1961 the Army officially
recognized, designated and activated the team as the US Army
Parachute Team.
Since then, the Golden Knights have awed audiences across the
country and the globe at air shows and competitions. More recently,
the team has conducted high-profile tandem jumps with dignitaries
such as former President George H.W. Bush,
who jumped for his 80th birthday along with
friend Chuck Norris, as well as celebrities such as Tiger Woods,
Ann Curry, Bill Murray and David Hasselhoff.
Today, the Golden Knights consist of two demonstration teams
which travel nationwide performing aerial demonstrations at air
shows and special events in support of Army recruiting efforts, and
two competition teams which travel and compete nationally and
internationally at various parachuting competitions. Year after
year, the Golden Knights continuously bring home honors and are the
most successful US Department of Defense sports team.
"Like every US Army Soldier, the Golden Knights exhibit a
strength like no other -- developed through half a century of
challenging training, a spirit of teamwork and a set of shared
values," added Col. David Lee, Director of Marketing for the US
Army Accessions Command. "Although the Golden Knights have a unique
mission, throughout their history they have represented something
even more special -- the strength that can only be gained through
being a US Army Soldier."
Participants in the anniversary celebration included the
Honorable Secretary of the Army Pete Geren, Golden Knights alumni,
including several original members of the 1959 team and Sonny Hill,
president of the team's alumni association.
As part on their ongoing 50th anniversary celebration, the
Golden Knights have a variety of special activities planned for the
coming months, including jumps into the new Yankees Stadium and the
Statue of Liberty grounds in New York City. The team will also
continue to perform at air shows, compete on an international level
and perform high-profile tandem jumps.
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