Salute from the Shore to celebrate 15th year on the Grand Strand

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW) — Salute from the Shore started in 2009 and continues to be a Fourth of July tradition celebrated by thousands along the South Carolina coastline each year.

The event started with two friends and their sons and one flyover, said Will Howard, a Salute from the Shore board member. However, the event meant to to honor America’s armed forces on the nation’s birthday has now grown into something enormous.

“It’s really cool to be out there and see the energy and the swell of people coming in with their red, white and blue,” Howard said. “I think it’s really become a part of what’s been ingrained a little bit in the coastal South Carolina 4th of July celebration.”

There will be planes like T-16 jets, C-17s, T-34s and T-28s. They will start at 1 p.m. at Cherry Grove in North Myrtle Beach and make their way down the coastline to Beaufort.

The event has become a tradition on the coast for the 4th of July for those on the ground and in the air.

“We’ve actually gotten feedback from some of the pilots that it’s really cool to see such a concentration on the coast of red, white and blue, but again they make this thing possible,” Howard said. “We’re simply doing what we can do to get everybody to say thank you to the brave men and women in our armed forces that make this day possible for us.”

While many people at the event are from South Carolina, some are visiting.

“It’s been cool to see people from the Upstate participate, so many people down in Columbia and all over our wonderful state of South Carolina, but also people outside of our state coming down and making Salute from the Shore a part of their July 4th festivities.”

And once this year’s event is over, organizers immediately start planning for next year, Howard said. It’s a team effort, but seeing everyone celebrate makes it all worth it, he said.

“It’s cool,” Howard said. “It’s a lot of work, but it is absolutely well worth it because it’s a cool thank you for us from the shore.”

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Hannah Huffstickler is a multimedia journalist at News13. She joined the News13 team in January 2024 after graduating from Coastal Carolina University in December of 2023. Keep up with Hannah on Facebook , X, formerly Twitter , and Instagram . You can also read more of her work here .

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