NORFOLK, Va. – U.S. Navy Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 103 conducted a flyover during the national anthem before the 2025 MLB Speedway Classic, where the Atlanta Braves took on the Cincinnati Reds at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee. The Braves won, 4-2.

Lt. Justin Hiller, a 2015 graduate of Fleming Island High, was one of the aviators who participated in the pre-game flyover.

The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Clay County.

“[Fleming Island] taught me the value of community, especially through its strong ties to the Navy,” Hiller said. “It also instilled in me the importance of education and growth, which have helped me succeed throughout my Navy career.”

Hiller joined the Navy seven years ago. Today, Hiller serves as an aviator assigned to VFA 103, known as the “Jolly Rogers,” operating out of Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

“I grew up [on Fleming Island], Florida, where the strong Navy presence shaped my view of service and purpose,” Hiller said. “Many people I looked up to had served, and I was drawn to that same sense of pride and connection to something greater than myself.”

Hiller was part of the historic event, which attracted a record crowd of 91,000, marking the first official National or American League baseball game to be played in the state of Tennessee, according to Major League Baseball officials. The flyover formation included the F/A-18 Super Hornet, a combat-ready strike fighter designed to face the advanced threats of the 21st Century, according to Navy officials.

The U.S. Navy is celebrating its 250th birthday this year.

According to Navy officials, “America is a maritime nation and for 250 years, America’s Warfighting Navy has sailed the globe in defense of freedom.”

With 90% of global commerce traveling by sea and internet access relying on the security of undersea fiber optic cables, Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity of the United States is directly linked to recruiting and retaining talented people from across the rich fabric of America.

Hiller has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.

“One of my proudest accomplishments is earning my division lead qualification as a junior officer, which marked the result of years of flying, learning and developing as a tactical leader,” Hiller said. “It also gave me the opportunity to mentor junior aviators and help guide their success.”

Hiller serves a Navy that operates far forward, around the world and the clock, promoting the nation’s prosperity and security.