Nixon Foundation and American Red Cross Team Up for July 4th Flyover and Blood Drive

With many Fourth of July celebrations and fireworks shows canceled throughout Southern California, the Richard Nixon Foundation and the American Red Cross partnered to bring red, white, and blue fanfare to Orange County with a spectacular flyover above the Nixon Library while more than 60 heroes took time out of their holiday to help save lives by donating blood in the Library’s East Room.

Thousands across Southern California looked to the skies at 2:00 PM and enjoyed a thrilling airshow above the Nixon Library. The Tiger Squadron out of Zamperini Airfield performed four passes above the President’s Birthplace and the Pat Nixon Gardens that was seen by families across Orange County.

During the flyover, the Foundation invited active-duty servicemembers for a private ceremony in the Pat Nixon Amphitheater. The program featured a formal Presentation of the Colors by the Sons of the American Revolution Orange County Honor Guard, patriotic musical performances, and remarks by Commander of the U.S. Army Southern California Recruiting Battalion, Colonel John Bleigh.

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Richard Nixon Foundation has opened the doors of its East Room to the American Red Cross and Lifestream Blood Bank hosting 10 blood drives and more scheduled into the summer and fall. Each drive at the Nixon Library has reached near capacity.

The 10 blood drives held at the Nixon Library since March have resulted in more than 600 usable units of blood. According to the American Red Cross, each usable unit can save up to three lives, meaning that over 1,800 lives have potentially been saved by blood donated at the Nixon Library.

There are upcoming blood drives scheduled at the Nixon Library on July 9, 13, 30, and August 12.

Media coverage of the flyover and blood drive: