WESTFIELD—In honor of those who help the community, The 104th Fighter Wing at Barnes Air National Guard Base have nominated two to fly with the Thunderbirds before the Westfield International Air Show this weekend.
The 104th nominated Carlos Arredondo and Westfield Deputy Fire Chief Eric Bishop as Hometown Heroes to fly with the Thunderbirds. The two will meet and greet with the Thunderbird crew and will be given VIP treatment before the air show, according to Senior Master Sgt. Julie Avey of the 104th Fighter Wing. Then, if they are able to pass screenings and the weather permits, then the two might fly with the Thunderbirds on Thursday and Friday.
“Obviously it’s an honor to be nominated,” Bishop said. “I am honored and excited if I’m able to fly and hope to make the city of Westfield and the fire department proud.”
Avey said that the two were chosen because the Thunderbirds are honoring Hometown Heroes during this year’s air show and it was determined that they wanted to choose one hero that people were more aware of, as well as another that has made more impacts locally.
“One that gives back that everybody’s aware of, and one that’s our hometown hero for our smaller town here in Western Massachusetts,” Avey said of the nominations.
Westfield Fire Deputy Chief Eric Bishop
For Bishop, the nomination comes due to his continued work with those in the Westfield community, particularly the efforts he has put forth within the elderly community. Bishop has worked to improve fire safety in homes in Westfield as the fire prevention officer for the department. Part of this role has included working with two of the state’s fire safety grant programs–Student Awareness and Fire Education (SAFE) and Senior SAFE. With SAFE, Bishop aims to educate children about fire safety. With Senior SAFE, Bishop and others have provided smoke and carbon monoxide detectors with installation and fire safety education to seniors throughout the city.
Bishop said he has served on the Westfield Fire Department since 1999, reaching the rank of deputy chief, and worked as an EMT and paramedic in Westfield and nearby communities. Bishop maintains his paramedic licensure and has received several awards for his efforts in paramedicine, including a mayoral proclamation from Westfield Mayor Richard Sullivan for his actions in helping to save a life on March 25, 2001, according to the proclamation.
According to Avey, Arredondo’s nomination comes due to his work within suicide prevention and work that he has done with veterans, among many other activities. From Avey via email: “[Arredondo] is being nominated for his resiliency, having lost two sons—[20-year-old] Alex as a Marine in Iraq in 2004, and [24-year-old] Brian in 2011 to depression as result of his brothers’ death. He is being nominated for being a hero who gives back to veterans and communities.”
In addition, Arredondo is being honored for his heroism during the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013. Arredondo was in the iconic photograph where a man, Jeff Bauman, is being wheeled to safety in a wheelchair and Arredondo is assisting and is wearing a cowboy hat.
Arredondo has been recognized nationally for his efforts and has been given many awards. He and his family have also established the Arredondo Family Foundation, whose mission “is to empower military families in the prevention of military related suicides and to provide support through education, financial relief and support services,” according to the foundation’s website.
According to Avey, the two will be given VIP treatment, including tours of the planes and a meet-and-greet with the crew. Then, each participant will have to go through a medical check and training in order to fly with the Thunderbirds, if conditions allow.
