Welcome, Green Knights!

Welcome to Yuma, Green Knights (aka Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121).

It's official, the Marines' F-35B Lightning II now calls Marine Corps Air Station Yuma home.

I am proud to tell people that we have Harriers, and now I'm proud to say this new aeronautical marvel is based here too.

What surprised me, though, is that among the list of dignitaries on hand at Tuesday's ceremony, Bruce Willis wasn't among them. After all, in his “Live Free or Die Hard” movie, he kinda sorta rode an F-35 before it went down.

I watched the movie when it was released in 2007 and wondered if such a plane did actually exist.

So, I did some research and found that the plane that stalked “John McClane” was not a computer generated fighter jet, but a real F-35, albeit with some Hollywood tweaks, according to some aircraft enthusiasts.

Our F-35s, however, are the real thing. Join me in welcoming them home!