Wreath Flies with Fat Albert

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The Blue Angels C-130, commonly known as ‘Fat Albert,’ had an unusual passenger during the Air Show at the Vidalia Onion Festival on Saturday, as a wreath made by a Montgomery County native rode aboard the plane strapped in a seat. Kendra Harbuck’s mother, Susan Beard, spent Friday catering for the concert sponsor tent, which included Blue Angels’ Pilots and Crew. The group noticed several wreaths made by Harbuck, which were used for decoration, and asked Beard if they could have one. “We had leftover onion bags, and I thought they would make a cute wreath with the burlap or mesh,” Harbuck commented. “What made it special was the bags I used were leftover from my Papa James’s farm. So when my mom asked if the Blue Angels could have one, of course, I said yes.”

Harbuck’s grandfather James H. Lilliard was one of the first onion farmers within the area, which made his old onion sacks the perfect souvenir for the Blue Angels’ trek to the Vidalia Onion Festival.

She presented the wreath to Quality Assurance Technician Joshua Green, who told Harbuck that as a “thank you,” the wreath would fly on “Fat Albert” during the show on Saturday.

Green kept his promise, and the wreath was strapped into a seat on the plane during the show.

“I’m so glad I was able to do this,” Harbuck shared. “These guys were so nice, and I really enjoyed getting to meet them.”

WILD RIDE – The wreath was flown aboard “Fat Albert” on Saturday during the Air Show. Here, a pilot photographed the wreath as it lay in the passenger seat of the aircraft.