A Caledonia High School teacher’s commitment to connecting students with veterans has given him a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Joel Diekevers, an American history teacher at Caledonia High School, was chosen to fly with the United States Navy Blue Angels during a practice flight on Tuesday, Aug. 29 in Ypsilanti, Michigan. “It was an honor, for sure. I felt like (it was) something I didn’t deserve to do but it was certain I was going to take advantage of,” Diekevers said. The Blue Angels team is the United States Navy flight demonstration squadron. They perform their flying aerobatic demonstrations in air shows throughout the United States. The Blue Angels are participating in the Thunder Over Michigan Air Show over Labor Day Weekend, Sept. 2-4 at Willow Run Airport in Ypsilanti. “How many people in this country can say they’ve ridden in the Blue Angels jets?” Diekevers said. The Blue Angels choose key influencers to fly with them during these practice flights. Diekevers, nominated by Kevin Walsh with the Yankee Air Museum at Willow Run, was one of three chosen to participate on Tuesday. He traveled to Willow Run Airport on the east side of the state for the practice flight and said [...]