Posted on 11/05/2005 6:07:14 PM PST by SirChas
I just got home from the Air Force vs Army Football game here in Colorado Springs, and thought some of you might like to hear about the halftime show.
While the Air Force falcon (bird not airplane) was flying around the stadium as usual, the USAFA band marched to the south end of the field, just about under the Army crowd and band, which was a bit out of the ordinary.
As soon as the bird finished, the USAFA band started playing an Army march and we noticed something coming out of the north end of the stadium from the tunnel, where the players enter. It was a group of about two hundred or more Army troops lead by their own honor guard and an older guy that must have been the commander. The announcer said they were one of the new groups from Korea that were being based at Ft Carson (just south of Colo Springs) after being in combat in Iraq. All of us in the Air Force stadium including the Air Force and Army cadets went wild cheering!!!
The group formed several ranks close to the west side of the field, and then two hundred AFA cadets un-rolled an American flag that covered the complete field while the band played God Bless America. I must admit that the sight and sound of it all really puts a lump in your throat.
The game started with a fly over of four F-15s in afterburner and ended with an Air Force loss to Army, but what I'll remember is the welcome to Colorado Springs that we gave these Army troops.
I am so very proud to live in a community that appreciates our military and understands why we have to use them in the war. We get it!
SirChas
So does the recap! Thanks for the post.
Awesome!!!
God bless these fine American soldiers, all! V's wife
Tears here.
. . . the monitor is looking abit blurry at the moment!!
[Thank you for sharing this touching anecdote!]
Yes, we do indeed get it, and yes, I'm very proud to live here, too. Thanks for the report ... the jets did their turns back to Falcon Stadium right over my house.
Thanks for the post.
God Bless America
TT
ping
What's important is the Air Force vs. Al Queda score.
ESPN showed the game but not the halftime event.....
I did see my daughter in the stands when they panned the Air Force cadets.....they did a quick close-up....
That was my halftime show.....
There have been several halftimes over the years that were as moving as this. It's too bad that the TV crowd doesn't get the opportunity to view it.
I got a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes...thank you for posting this.
I'm an Air Force brat, too. Thank you for your service.
I got more than a lump in my throat from SC's story - my screen got a little blurry. Thank you for sharing it - I really enjoyed it! I spent part of my youth and all of my teenage years in Denver. While Dad was at Lowry AFB, we used to go to Fitzsimmons (Army) for medical care (and sometimes to the BX, etc), so while we always appreciated all military, next to the AF, we felt closest to the Army (except during football games ;-)
We attended quite a few AF Academy games - I always enjoyed them, especially when AF won. It's a beautiful setting and a wonderful site w the cadets, falcon, etc.
Wonderful post! Thank you for sharing the news.
This Army vet salutes the Air Force. Thank you.
"That was my halftime show....."
I'll bet. You must be one very proud papa. Congratulations!
Great story
"All branches are special to me..."
Ditto that.
My brother is USMA '79. Go Army, Beat Navy.
Thanks for sharing.
God bless the men and women in our military, their families and those who support our military. Americans all.
WOW --- how neat that you got to see your daughter...and congratulations on raising a very brave young woman.
Tell her how much we at FR appreciate her service!
As an Annapolis resident and a Navy season ticket holder, I have to say those lumps in my throat come fairly often. It is one thing to see these fine young Americans march onto the field, but you then have to think about what they will face in the immediate future. It was all brought home to me a few years back when a young LCDR, a SEAL by his badge, came to my door one afternoon and asked about the family from whom we bought our house a few years before. He was just back from "there" and in Annapolis for his 10th reunion. He had heard his "sponsor" parents had moved but hoped he might still be able to get in touch with them. As I poured him a beer and went to find their info, I thought to myself, "How fortunate are we as a country to have such fine young men and women protecting and defending us." As I said, the lumps come fairly often.
I agree 100% with one small modifier;
What's important is the Air Force/Navy/Marine/Army vs. Al Queda score.
And we're winning!!!!
"I have to say those lumps in my throat come fairly often. It is one thing to see these fine young Americans march onto the field, but you then have to think about what they will face in the immediate future."
True. I'm always struck by how young they are. It is tremendous to think of what fine young people we have defending our country (older servicemen not forgotten :-)).
G-D Bless our Troops.
Awesome! God Bless Our Troops!!
Thank you for describing an inspiring event we could not see on television. God bless our military.
LiteKeeper
Chaplain, Us Army (retired)
Annapolis is the greatest U.S. city and the USNA family sponsors are the most wonderful people. They allow midshipmen a Saturday/Sunday respite from the daily routine and grant a brief feeling of home and just hanging around the house and watching TV. It would have been a more difficult four years without the prospect of retreating to a sponsor's home for a meal away from King Hall and real family folks for a few hours.
Family and friends attended the game too and spoke so highly of the half time tribute to these soldiers. They said the flag was awesome. Hope there will be photos of it or videon on the news. Sorry AF lost but...if we had to lose I would rather lose to Army right now. They are doing such a great job in Iraq. We pray for them all the time and hope each and every one of them can come home safe and sound to the arms of their loving families.
Good luck to these fine soldiers who gave so much for us. Thank you to them for their service and God speed!
I found both the Navy vs. Tulane game and Air Force vs. Army game on the back channels of cable TV. It was wonderful being able to watch REAL student-athletes play a game, yet all the service academy students know that it is ONLY a game, and the real responsibilities start upon graduation - AND commissioning.
I wish the service academies had the games televised more regularly, and on more major networks!! I think that these teams represent something special that no other college/university can even come close to demonstrating. It can be called "Duty, Honor, Country", or "Honor, Courage, Commitment", or "Integrity first, Service before self and Excellence in all we do" ... but it represents something special, and woefully lacking at most institutions of higer education!
I was rooting for USAFA ... but only because an Air Force victory would automatically mean that USNA would retain custody of the COmmander-in-Chief's Trophy - regardless of the outcome of the Army-Navy game (of course, we all know that the Navy will probably sink Army .... again ... so the trophy will continue its residency in Bancroft Hall.)
BTW - Navy repaid Tulane today. Last year, Tulane defeated Navy in a 42 to 10 rout. Today, Navy avenged themselves with a final score of 49 to 21 (and in the last quarter, basically put in second string and cut back so as to not run up the score further.)
And another BTW - the USNA Director of Athletics went all out to ensure that the Academy was a gracious and helpful host to Tulane ... ensuring a memorable visit:
(From http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/college/football/bal-sp.navyfoot02nov02,1,7865849.story?ctrack=1&cset=true
"We've tried to come up with a way to make this trip on Navy," Gladchuk said. "We're just doing everything we can to help them, to support them." Visiting teams are normally guaranteed an average of $120,000 from the host school. Gladchuk upped that amount by $50,000 and sent the check to Dickson in advance. Tulane is using the additional money to cover air fare for the entire football traveling party.
"Everything involving Tulane athletics is so disjointed right now. There's no cash flow and the school president has basically told Rick Dickson to figure it out," Gladchuk said. "They're really worried about losing everything. We feel compelled to do what we can to help ease the burden." Navy has come up with ways to save Tulane approximately $50,000 more in expenses for this trip. At the academy's urging, the Wyndham Hotel in Baltimore is providing complimentary rooms for the entire traveling party. When players, coaches and support staff arrive at their hotel rooms, they will find gifts bags filled with all sorts of goodies as a welcome offering from the Naval Academy.
Navy has also arranged for free bus transportation for the team throughout its stay in the area. The entire Tulane traveling party has been invited to a dinner at the academy on Friday night.
Finally, all Tulane students that wish to attend the game will receive a free ticket by simply presenting a valid student identification card. Gladchuk estimates the total relief Navy is offering the Tulane athletic department to reach roughly $200,000.
"We just want this entire trip, except for the 60 minutes on Saturday, to be very enjoyable for the Tulane folks," Gladchuk said.
I was there today too. It was awesome how the Air Force cadets cheered as the Army soldiers marched onto the field. I had my seven year old son with me, and was proud to explain to him that the men marching onto the field were real heroes. I am a Naval Academy graduate, but was proud of how both the Army and the Air Force fans honored some of the finest Americans this country has to offer. It was a great moment, and well deserved.
Without these admirable men and women it's all over for all of us.
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