Business owner Candy Whitehurst broke down in tears on CNN Wednesday.
Whitehurst owns the Florida-based sewing shop Sewing Box.
She explained how the U.S. Navy terminated her nearly 50-year relationship with the Blue Angels and awarded the contract to Virginia-based Aquila International. The new contract exceeds $1.6 million, nearly 2.5 times the Sewing Box’s $683,653 in federal awards between 2014 and 2025.
Whitehurst received no explanation for the abrupt termination in May.
“I have text messages where the guys were saying, ‘Oh, this is the best suit I ever had,’ right before I found out,” she told CNN.
“I can just show you and tell you stories where they was just in here praising me, so why they took this initiative? I do not know. But But I just wish they would have had a conversation with me beforehand.”
Her husband, Ronnie Whitehurst, emphasized the emotional significance, noting she had devoted countless hours perfecting the uniforms.
Aquila owner Todd Kelsey claimed he used “government connections” to win the contract.
CNN anchor Sarah Sidner acknowledged the couple’s half-century of dedicated service and the profound impact of losing the business.
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