She Sewed the Blue Angels’ Flight Suits. Then a Big Company Got the Job.

Jellie Whitehurst, who for decades sewed the iconic Blue Angels flight suits by hand, was taken aback when the Navy handed a $1.7 million contract to a Virginia-based company to supply the gear. This shift highlights the changing landscape of military contract awards, raising questions about the impact on local businesses and the long-standing traditions associated with the Blue Angels. The move underscores the broader trend of large corporations securing significant government contracts, often at the expense of small, community-based enterprises.