tonight is about honoring our frontline workers are heroes doctors nurses housekeepers and hospital staff Your courage and your commitment of kept our state going during this difficult time You keep us safe Helped flatten the curve You risk your health You're showing this help Teamwork dedication Sacrifice will get us through this while they're still a long way to go Tonight we salute you anything Thanks Thank you Good evening And thank you for joining us for this special salute to our frontline heroes I'm Debra Morgan and I'm Gerald Owens Tonight we're honoring our frontline workers in the fight to stop Cove in 19 with a tribute you won't see anywhere else The path starts in Raleigh right here A wre l Then it's off to Wake Med Raleigh Duke Raleigh UNC Rex and Wake Med Carry the bandit flight team then flies west to German Chapel Hill Our team coverage expands across the triangle along the flight path on the air and on the ground starting with David Crunchy right here A WRL TV David I see them in the distance Oh Deborah It's just amazing for those of us who loved to fly What a wonderful night to be flying We hear on the hella paddy capital broadcasting where Sky five comes and go and just and a few seconds you're going to see six planes the bandits flying over their head here to honor the front line workers throughout the triangle We have seen these flights around the country Those front line workers are so humbled by people reaching out to them These are the workers who give so tirelessly every day and they have done so throughout this pandemic Six planes flying at 1000 feet are going to make their way to seven area hospitals blowing smoke literally letting those workers no that they so appreciate what they're doing I'm getting in the queue now that they air coming in Oh my gracious Here they come I'm going to step out of the way here They've already started blowing their smoke If they make their way over wre only capital broadcasting Take a look at this You're going to be watching this tonight From that view from sky Five from our cameras and also from the cockpit they're on the way in about 90 seconds They're going to be a Wake Med Let's go to Sky five now and Pilot Mitch Breeze Mitch Okay unfortunately we can't hear Mitch But again it's gonna take about 90 seconds They're going to make their way out Teoh out the weight men I know WR Eos Adam Jones is going to be as live in weight Mad Adam can you hear me Yes David we can hear you And a number of frontline workers are lining the bridge and the top of the parking decks in this area waiting for those planes to arrive Of course that is gonna happen in just a few minutes It's a matter of fact Any moment now Expect to hear that rumble of those approaching six aircraft But they're all coming out from their duty stations for just a moment to a witness This take place I can tell you A lot of the public are also across the street in various parking lots They've heard about this event taking place They wanted to get in on it as well And so we've seen a lot of people around the property also in the area They want to get a look at this A salute to these brave people that have helped us out through this pandemic There is a lot of anticipation out here right now David I have a witness Got thanks man I think we're starting to hear Everybody's facing toward the sky so they must be on their way There they go You're starting to hear people cheer right now See them clapping on the bridge They're flying directly over all 6/2 trails of smoke behind them A lot of smiling faces out here right now People clapping as well This is something that a lot of people here have been waiting for to see But this is not the first salute to these medical professionals here Awake Med They've had the fire Department apartment come by Have had awake accounting sheriff's office come by honking our horns with their sirens and lights on a lot of different people wanting to do what they can to show their appreciation We're also told that a lot of letters and notes and even pieces of artwork have been sent to the hospital here The weight met location in Raleigh They posted them up on the wall people trying to show their appreciation in that way and leader share Wake Met Tell us They're also appreciated to the community who have taken steps to make sure that we're keeping distant slowing the spread of the virus so that they could be prepared when it finally made its way to our area So it did not cause any problems so they were overwhelmed by a peak So they feel like it's really this hospital family and the community as a family that has come together to really make the difference here Earlier we talked with someone from Wake Man Here's what they had to say Our family here it at week minute to everyone who's listening Uh we have been deeply touched to see just how much our community cares for us You know we're here to care for our community and that no matter what this pandemic brings us next that we're proud to be here to help fight it together And the excitement is far from over This is just their first stop there Heading to another hospital right now are Mark Boyle is watching them in real time Mark what do you see Adam we're watching this GPS tracker This was built for this evening This evening and you can see in the plane right here We're just a few seconds away from the bandits showing up and flying over Duke Raleigh So if you are north and west of downtown Raleigh the Lake Boone Trail Area Carter Finley Stadium area That is where this group is now look up in the sky and from sky five You can see that amazing shot right there It owners gives you chills to see them fly over You know this is something that is quite significant to a lot of the people So do Qual is up next and U N C Rex and Wake Med carry That is how it will go in that order So again we're watching these planes And again if you're wondering how we're tracking this in live real time right now Amy Wilmoth was telling me we put a GPS tracker and one of those planes So every second along the way this evening we're able to see where it is again Sky five is monitoring these planes as we are What a beautiful night to see this So and do Crawley You are up next Everyone pay attention and look to the skies You won't be able to miss these planes back to you Gerald absolutely raises goose bumps on your arms to watch planes fly in formation Thank you Mark You know one way they celebrated UNC Rex Hospital when a patient is discharged after battling Kobe 19 is by issuing what they call a code Rocky Nobile Lafi of Kerry spent nearly a month in the hospital mostly in I c U before being released earlier this week Your heart everyone I hope everybody down there Rex I spill is watching the flyover Where Right now about 45 seconds out Once again we turned that broke on that opportunity to say thank you for the entire community It's a beautiful evening here and we do appreciate the work that everybody has to say Thank you to everybody Rex So Fanis let's say thank you And it's already smoke or gone The bandits right now over U N C Rex saying there thank you And this video showing the front line workers waving back saying We appreciate this show of supports and uh this has just been an amazing night And listening to Jim Co Patrick the leader of the bandits in the cockpit and you get to hear how happy that they are about the way air so fortunate to have one of those employees with us now Erin McCarroll an e r nurse there Erin thank you so much for joining us Thank you for having me Aaron Talk about the community Support not only the tribute that you're seeing up in the air but what you're getting from the community How important is this for morale around the hospital The community support the outreach The outpouring has been incredible Um it's really kept us going day today It's it's really kind of interesting because we're normally you know the ones taking care of all of them And while we're taking care of them the community is also giving back and taking care of us Um absolutely What's been really awesome Erin we've seen these code Rocky stories like we just showed talk about those moments where everyone is clapping and cheering and celebrating someone being able to go home Oh it super emotional Um it's really cool to be able to see the patient be able to get this church out of the hospital on their healthy and get to be reunited with their family and their loved ones and just being able to cheer them on and see the smiles even through the masters See it in their safe in their eyes It's really incredible to be a part of Well you know Erin after patients been to a tough recovery at a hospital it certainly has to feel good to feel that sense of warmth that you all send them home with Yes Absolutely While Aaron McCarroll er nurse at UNC Rex thank you so much for your time and for your commitment to our community And we say thank you so much to you tonight Oh thank you guys Oh that is wonderful And you see and feel the support that the health care workers feel as well Is this a win win UNC Rex is a member of UNC Health Care serving Wake County for more than 125 years W Orioles Kirsten get here is his live and Wake Med and carry the next stop for the flyover And Kirsten can you give us a sense of the excitement there People are definitely eager and hospital workers continue to trickle out here behind me Awake Meadow and Carrie and behind my photographer Brad The parking lot is packed with community members here to show their support for health workers Now they are waiting for the bandits to come It should be here any moment Everyone in the parking lot is asking which way they're coming So we're on standby You know a lot of people out here We're here at six Parked out with their lawn chairs Oh I think they see him There they are up to the right Here Let's take a look How amazing and incredible Everyone's clapping here Incredible You bandits flying 1000 feet in the air blowing smoke over every hospital to salute our health care workers And our health care workers are all on social media taking pictures and I'm sure they appreciate it Now Gerald we're gonna send things back to you and see where the bandits were heading right now So it's nice that the hospital workers have been able to come outside to take the time Teoh even see the flyover That's right They just came out here for a break And as you can hear behind me there all the community is clapping for them and now they're heading back to work Looks like mission accomplished with the flyover for the staff there at the hospital Thank you Kerstin We appreciate it Well the bandits are done now in Wake County They're traveling west to Durham and Chapel Hill Actually Wheeler is a nurse A Duke Regional hospital We've been sharing her video blawg with you for the past several weeks We're honored to have her with us live this time on the telephone because she's off tonight Ashleigh thank you so much for being with us Thanks for having me is pretty special Actually your updates have been a powerful reminder of how much stress you and your colleagues are under every day In the end these updates that you've been giving us you talk about community support How important is that for you and your colleagues have been huge because we it's easy to feel like we're kind of on our own because we just our home with our families and they would come to work And we don't see a lot of people in between Um and we have had this just like constant outpouring every day There is either a local business that brought us wonderful food which nurses air definitely interested in all the time Or we've gotten you know family members will make us snacks had brownies and it's just a little thing you know it But it means so much to know that people are thinking of us We've had um come and donate facemask sets they made for us to use outside of the hospital and your protectors lots and lots like handcrafted crow shade ear protectors which are stylish and very helpful Actually you know I've wanted to like reach through the screen and be able to try to hug you because I so appreciated your updates throughout the past few weeks that we've been showing here on our seven oclock news I know there are Sometimes you seem really exhausted So how have you been holding up through this And I want to have that hug once it's allowed again If you allow absolutely definitely will allow that Um I've been holding up really well the videos trying to you know be really honest in the video but it's also like I want to strike a balance of not sounding completely hopeless and sounding like it's not a big deal because I mean I've been in the air for 14 years There's a lot of stuff that happens every single damn It worked before this That was no pretty difficulty So you know my coworkers and I were really used to difficult things And so some days it's just been really run of the mill and you know if I stop but think of what You know what I had to do that day I think it would be hard for you know somebody who is not a nurse to understand So um I definitely don't want to be Well actually you and your colleagues Yes you and your colleagues are changing lives And again we really appreciate you joining us We know your personal time is more valuable to you now than it has ever been Thank you Ashleigh Let's get back to Mark Boyle as the bandits travel west now over Western Wake County and then toward Duke Hospital Mark devolution where they are right now on this map That's already you You see the bandits right here in live real time They're heading north and West towards Durham Duke University Hospital is up next and that's where Ken Smith is right now Live Ken Mark was standing by for the bandits here Endure a right outside Duke Hospital behind me At 7 22 the team will fly over this hospital and 7 27 The team will head to Chapel Hill for UNC Medical Center than back to Durham and Duke Regional for a flyover around 7 32 will be live from Durham and Chapel Hill You're watching Frontline fly over a salute to healthcare heroes Here on WRL This is a church just want thank all the U N C Health care workers and physicians for the work that you're doing Five to Grover virus You guys on the front lines You're risking your lives to save others We appreciate it very much Thank you guys Hang in there Welcome back to our front line Fly over a salute to health care heroes W Oil is proud to partner with the bandit flight team and the North Carolina Health Care Association for this tribute It has been a perfect night for this and over the past 20 minutes we've had flyovers for our frontline heroes at Wake Med Duke Rally UNC Rex and Wake Med Kerry We've heard from the pilots in the cockpit and now those bandits are moving west to Durham Let's get back to Mark Boyle and a live center who is tracking their journey mark Here's where things are right now The pilots are just south of downtown Durham on the map You see downtown right there heading towards the Duke Medical Center So they're just a few minutes or a few seconds away from arriving there So we have a GPS tracker on the Plains right now and Ken Smith is live there Duke University Hospital And can the feeling has got to be certainly on the excitement level real high And the emotions are mixed here because people have been dealing with so much over the past few weeks And now this is a way for the community to say thanks You're absolutely right Mark I'm gonna get out of the way So photographer Jaime London can show you exactly what's happening here just outside Duke Hospital These first line responders have been out here for the last few minutes just waiting in anticipation for the bandit flight team to fly over Duke Hospital It's been a long road from many of these frontline heroes and we're so grateful to be able to be with them tonight to see this and look at them There's really waiting in great anticipation for this You know we had an opportunity to reach out to Duke earlier and we heard from a couple of people and one doctor wrote back to us and said I resigned my commission almost a year ago after serving for 10 years Greatly value the Thomas spent serving in the Army Reserve and she is so grateful for what's happening tonight Let's send it up to Jim Kilpatrick with the bandit flighting by your life Right now we have enough for Duke University on this opportunity to tell those people how much we appreciate their efforts and all the hard work that they have done We've got a nice view of it here So Bennett let's say thank you to do University Hospital fantasy flight already spoke What an amazing side Everybody had their eyes glued to the skies and there was some applause as the bandit team through over Duke Hospital You know from here they will head down Tobacco Road to UNC Medical Center before looping back to Durham to fly over Duke Regional as we follow the bandits to U N C Take a look and a listen at this music video from singer songwriter Abby Schiller She wrote this to support those tar heels on the front lines Front line It's not so just this time but it's a battle first way So one way Sister Strivers brothers help us make it through who are here to help you So that's sending a message is to the ones is safe Wonderful and it's actually damn the right thing to do Health care workers with great partners E R A L a North Carolina association They really worked hard to put this together way Certainly do appreciate it Those people put their life on the line They've been at that for us The pilot here were local silent So way wanted to say thank you Way have this opportunity way had this opportunity with with our aircraft thank you with a flyover visual indication of how community appreciates their efforts and what they've done and are now asked what we're coming up on a university is not the last of the University of North Carolina Medical Center is got a nice you up coming up But this one is even special for my daughter is a position out there Leaper He's been on the front line now several weeks So to line on all of my first stamp we would like say thank you very much for your efforts on the entire community Were coming from the North were headed and I got a nice you There are bandits say thank you to those people down there has already gone You know I just get goose bumps not only seeing that sight seeing the smoke seeing those pilots and information knowing that the pilot you were just listening to Jim Kilpatrick has a daughter who's a physician at UNC Now he's ableto fly over with his team thanking her team on the ground below and just seeing there waving it just makes me so emotional to see how they're responding to give workers on the ground in the sense that we care about them and way know that they're risking their own personal health Every day they go to work The health of their families just by showing up to care for some really sick people And they're doing a day after day And this is just another way to say that we appreciate what you're doing Yeah they've really been working around the clock to keep all of us save Everyone has been impacted by this virus and knows people who are impacted And you likely know someone who works at a hospital or doctor's office Or maybe a researcher involved in this So so many people are touched by what we're going through right now Yeah this vantage point from Sky five is second to none You see the bright colors I mean it's a Ziff your in formation with this flight team it truly is remarkable R W R E O Photojournalist John Pain is there to capture this as well as the bandits will head back to Durham and that will be their final stop of the tour Duke Regional coming up in just a couple of minutes now maybe about three minutes So if you live in Durham and you miss them first time you have one more chance and we'll have much more reaction Tonight's flyover tonight on our news at 10 o'clock on Fox 50 and 11 here on WR Thank you to the bandits Thank you to our health care workers We hope you've enjoyed this airshow Unlikely really had before in this area Have a great night Everyone we need to stay with Yeah