Friday was a big day for Surrey youngster Ethan Fritz B次元官网网址� after months of separation due to pandemic-related border restrictions, he got to see his daddy.
Well, sort of.
One thing is for certain: the visit B次元官网网址� in the form of a U.S. Air Force transport plane over White Rock Pier B次元官网网址� caught the attention of waterfront residents and visitors.
Mystery -- this grey jet just flew over White Rock's waterfront doing a 360掳 turn above the pier at about 200 feet.
B次元官网网址� Ken Wuschke (@KenWuschke)
It was grey with no visible markings
Presently flying due south into the States.
Acknowledging it likely took at least a few people off-guard B次元官网网址� one woman who called Peace Arch B次元官网网址 described the unexpected sighting of the B次元官网网址渉ugeB次元官网网址� craft as B次元官网网址渟o closeB次元官网网址� so scaryB次元官网网址� B次元官网网址� EthanB次元官网网址檚 mom Alyssa Fritz said there simply wasnB次元官网网址檛 time to spread the word in advance.
B次元官网网址淚 was in-between if it was a good or a bad idea,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚 couldnB次元官网网址檛 pass it up, my son seeing his dad.
B次元官网网址淲e all went out of our way to make it happen.B次元官网网址�
Four-year-old Ethan has only seen his dad, Lt.-Col. TK Minzak, through video calls since his birthday in early March, Fritz explained, and the separation has been difficult for someone so young to understand.
B次元官网网址淲hen youB次元官网网址檙e four, itB次元官网网址檚 really hard,B次元官网网址� she said.
B次元官网网址淲ith the way things are and just the job that his dad doesB次元官网网址� it doesnB次元官网网址檛 look like weB次元官网网址檒l be able to see him anytime soon.B次元官网网址�
Minzak, who is originally from Texas, is a pilot for Alaska Airlines and flies reserve for the U.S. Air Force, Fritz continued. Pre-pandemic, she and Ethan routinely travelled to Seattle for family visits.
But that all came to an end in March.
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Thursday night, however, Fritz received news that Minzak had organized a special visit for Ethan B次元官网网址� permission to do a low-level fly-by of the White Rock Pier in the C17 transport plane he was piloting for a training exercise.
Ethan, his mom and several family members gathered at the end of the pier for the occasion. Minzak was to approach from the direction of Point Roberts and make two passes before returning to U.S. air space.
As the plane appeared in the distance, the excitement built.
B次元官网网址淟ook, just for you,B次元官网网址� Fritz exclaimed to Ethan as the plane came in for its first pass and did a B次元官网网址榳ing wiggleB次元官网网址� greeting. B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 waving.B次元官网网址�
After, Fritz said Ethan couldnB次元官网网址檛 wait to share the experience with his friends at daycare.
B次元官网网址淗e was just so happy and excited,B次元官网网址� she said.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not like a deployment,B次元官网网址� she noted of MinzakB次元官网网址檚 absence. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 like, his dad is right there and we just canB次元官网网址檛 get to him.
B次元官网网址淭oday, it was like a visual B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址榤y daddyB次元官网网址檚 there.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�
tholmes@peacearchnews.com
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