Local hero to fly with U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds

For the first time in Cleveland National Air Show history, the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds will fly a local community hero selected from among the dozens of nominations for its Hometown Hero program.

Kevin Edmond, a fire battalion chief from Mentor, was selected for the ride scheduled to take off Thursday, Sept. 1. His nominator has this to say about him:

“There are so many reasons why I am nominating Kevin Edmond. He is always one of the first to volunteer at the schools; whether he is a reading buddy, setting up for a special event, or sharing his knowledge of being a firefighter. As a husband he has supported me while I went back to school, started a job and fought breast cancer. In the community, I cannot count the times he has stopped to see if a resident needed help; whether it be medical or a helping hand. If a child showed interest in the fire trucks, he would make sure to invite that child to the fire station to sit on the truck. I have witnessed him first hand saving a life while he was off duty at a Lake County Captains game.”

Northeast Ohioans were asked to nominate their community heroes in June. Kevin Edmond was one of three finalists. All the finalists will receive VIP tickets at the Cleveland National Air Show presented by Discount Drug Mart takes place Sept. 3, 4 and 5 (Labor Day Weekend) at Burke Lakefront Airport.