Rain cancels state rep.'s 'Golden' opportunity

Even though she was scared stiff, state Rep. Elaine Nekritz of Des Plaines had her mind set Sunday on parachuting with the U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute Team as part of the Chicago Air and Water Show.

Unfortunately, the weather didn't cooperate, and her jump was canceled due to rain.

"I'm really disappointed," Nekritz said. "I had already been through orientation with another Army reservist who would have been jumping in tandem with me, and it just looked so cool."

Her connection with the Golden Knights was created this summer through one of her volunteers in Illinois' 57th District, Eve Watts. Watts' stepson, Noah, is a Golden Knight and she put him up to the idea of inviting Nekritz to jump.

"I was petrified, but I'm not going to turn down a great opportunity like that," Nekritz said.

Although the Knights aren't scheduled to jump again at next year's show - which means Nekritz won't get a public redo - the team invited her to try again at one of their training camps in North Carolina or Florida.

"Now I just may have to take a trip there," said Nekritz.