Golden Knights 23rd Change of Command

Fort Bragg, NC—The U.S. Army Parachute Team, the Golden Knights’ jumped into the Team Headquarters facility on 3-3327 Butner Road on Tuesday, 26 June 2012, at 10:30 am for the Change of Command Ceremony. LTC Joe Martin relinquished command of the United States Army Parachute Team, “Golden Knights” to LTC Jose Enrique Melendez. LTC Melendez is the twenty-fourth Commander of the parachute team during its fifty-third year of existence.

(Ret) SFC Darrin Grim gave a warm blessing opening the day’s event, followed by SSG Daniel Cook who did a phenomenal narration for the ceremony.

The 82^nd Army Band played the National Anthem under a brilliant blue sky as SGT John Lopez jumped in the American Flag and landed in the lot in front of the cheering crowd.  Five additional jumpers came in flying the Army Star, Team Colors and POW Flag demonstrating their exceptional skills of maneuvering a parachute, which is displayed at air shows in front of hundreds of thousands of people across the country weekly.

Members of the United States Army Parachute Team stood in a formation of a Black and Gold sea, behind CSM Royce Manis as the American Flag, Army Flag and POW Flag majestically flew high over head in front of the Team Headquarters.

Read the full story here.