The American flag’s descent to Venetian Island from 13,000 feet from ground is a moving experience for many who saw the demonstration the past two years. The leader of the Elite Frogs gracefully floated to the ground with a three-story high, eight-story long American Flag strapped to his right ankle. (Photo by Deb Patterson)

The Elite Frogs Parachute Team, made up of active duty and retired Navy SEALs, will be returning to Lake Wawasee for its third annual Patriots Day.

The featured event will be 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 9, as the team parachute jumps over Johnson’s Bay. The American flag jump, featuring an American flag specially made for this event that is three stories tall and six stories long, will take place at 3 p.m. with the demonstration jumps taking place at 3:30 p.m. The team will return around 9:30 p.m. for a fireworks jump.

If you’ve seen them the past two years, you won’t want to miss another year. If you haven’t seen these elite team members perform, it’s something you won’t want to miss. (See last year’s video, photos and article)

R.H. “Bud” Stickle, UDTR Class 41, chairman of the Wawasee Navy SEAL Foundation Inc., and resident of Lake Wawasee, hosts the event which benefits families of United States Navy SEALs. Over the past two years a total of $20,000 has been raised for the National Navy Seal Foundation.

The funding for the foundation comes solely from donations with opportunities to make donations that afternoon.

Among the aerial acrobatics was the tri-by-side with red smoke streaming from the heels of jumpers.

There are three ways the public can participate:

Participate in a tandem parachute jump on Friday, Aug. 8, and Saturday morning, Aug. 9, for $900. This is a chance of a lifetime to parachute with a U.S. Navy SEAL and an opportunity you don’t want to miss.

Another way is to come and join the fun from the comfort of your boat on the lake and around Johnson’s Bay where donations will be collected boat to boat.

Finally, you may financially support the event and foundation by making a tax deductible donation to the Wawasee Navy SEAL Foundation online at wawaseenavysealfoundation.org or by mail. Corporate sponsorships are available and interested corporations can contact Stickle for more information. The organization has a federally exempt 501 (c) (19) letter of determination.

To contact Stickle, visit the website, write 2215 Valley Ave., Indianapolis, IN 46218, or call 317-445-2004.