Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

America Supports You: Soldier Proposes During Bowl Game Halftime
America Supports You ^ | Jan 2, 2005 | Kathleen T. Rhem

Posted on 01/03/2006 3:05:26 PM PST by SandRat

WASHINGTON, Jan. 2, 2006 – Faith Jarvis, of Winston-Salem, N.C., traveled to the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, in Tempe, Ariz., to try to do her bit to support the United Service Organizations, a charity that has supported America's servicemembers for generations.

She did help the USO, but Jarvis left with her own prize -- a diamond ring and a surprise reunion with her boyfriend-turned-fiancé, Army 1st Lt. Raymond Vera, a California National Guardsman with the 49th Military Police Brigade who has been serving in Iraq.

Jarvis attempted to throw a football through a target 15 yards away. If she made it, Tostitos would donate $100,000 to the USO. Then, a company representative told her, she would be able to speak to Vera via a satellite link. Her throw had the distance but was wide right. Tostitos still donated $25,000 to the USO.

Then Vera trotted out in a desert camouflage uniform and the two shared a tearful hug before Vera dropped to one knee.

"Faith, I love you with all my heart, and I want to ask you if you'll marry me," he said.

Jarvis was so overwhelmed, she could barely choke out, "Of course."

The surprise reunion and proposal was arranged through the Defense Department's America Supports You program, which works to highlight things corporations and private citizens do to support America's servicemembers. Many events to support the troops centered on the Fiesta Bowl.

A pre-game ceremony honored veterans who are students and graduates of the University of Notre Dame and Ohio State University, the two teams going head to head in the match-up.

Fans were treated to an F-16 flyover and a parachute arrival by the U.S. Air Force Wings of Blue demonstration team. They also saw a large American flag stretched across the field while U.S. Military Academy Cadet Glee Club, from West Point, N.Y., performed the National Anthem.

A few days earlier, on Dec. 31, volunteers from America Supports You and local school children joined members of "Packages From Home," a Glendale, Ariz., organization that provides care packages for military members, in a military tribute segment of the 2005 Fort McDowell Fiesta Bowl Parade, presented by the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; US: Arizona
KEYWORDS: america; americasupportsyou; bowl; bowlgames; collegefootball; during; game; halftime; proposes; soldier; supports; weddingbells; you
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041 next last

Army 1st Lt. Raymond Vera, a California National Guardsman with the 49th Military Police Brigade who has been serving in Iraq, embraces Faith Jarvis of Winston-Salem, N.C., at halftime of the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl football game at Tempe, Ariz., Jan. 2. The surprise reunion - which included Vera proposing to Jarvis -- was orchestrated by the Defense Department's "America Supports You" program. DoD photo


Army 1st Lt. Raymond Vera, a California National Guardsman with the 49th Military Police Brigade who has been serving in Iraq, shows an engagement ring to Faith Jarvis of Winston-Salem, N.C., just after she accepted his marriage proposal during a surprise reunion at halftime of the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl football game at Tempe, Ariz., Jan. 2. The event was orchestrated by the Defense Department's "America Supports You" program. DoD photo

1 posted on 01/03/2006 3:05:27 PM PST by SandRat
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: 2LT Radix jr; 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub; 80 Square Miles; A Ruckus of Dogs; acad1228; AirForceMom; ..
For the Romantics in case you need it

PHOTOS: Fiesta Bowl


2 posted on 01/03/2006 3:06:57 PM PST by SandRat (Duty, Honor, Country. What else needs to be said?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SandRat
Oooooooh, its just sooo beautiful....(sniff)
3 posted on 01/03/2006 3:09:54 PM PST by Pukin Dog (Sans Reproache)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: SandRat

That was a really sweet moment.


4 posted on 01/03/2006 3:11:15 PM PST by colorado tanker (I can't comment on things that might come before the Court, but I can tell you my Pinochle strategy)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SandRat

Wow! You done good, Soldier! You're both in my prayers!


5 posted on 01/03/2006 3:11:39 PM PST by MarineBrat (Talk is cheap because supply exceeds demand.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Pukin Dog

Yes it is, as long as the response is what is expected.


6 posted on 01/03/2006 3:11:46 PM PST by rudy45
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: rudy45

Wasn't there a real case a few months ago where the girl said no oon camera?


7 posted on 01/03/2006 3:15:13 PM PST by freedumb2003 (American troops cannot be defeated. American Politicians can.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: SandRat
"Faith, I love you with all my heart, and I want to ask you if you'll marry me," he said.

Thanks for the Kleenex and GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS

8 posted on 01/03/2006 3:32:16 PM PST by apackof2 (You can stand me up at the gates of hell, I'll stand my ground and I won’t back down)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: freedumb2003

I didn't see it, but heard about something like that. Wasn't it a basketball game? And, later wasn't it determined that the whole thing (proposal AND refusal) was staged?


9 posted on 01/03/2006 3:33:19 PM PST by rudy45
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Coop

Get a hankie..


10 posted on 01/03/2006 3:34:13 PM PST by Dog ( ABMcM(Anybody but McCain....except Bill Frist))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: apackof2
"Faith, I love you with all my heart, and I want to ask you if you'll marry me"

The cynic in me:

"Sure, you can ask."

11 posted on 01/03/2006 3:34:38 PM PST by rudy45
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: rudy45

Stop that!


12 posted on 01/03/2006 3:37:58 PM PST by apackof2 (You can stand me up at the gates of hell, I'll stand my ground and I won’t back down)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: rudy45
Yeah right.

That boy was safer in Iraq.
13 posted on 01/03/2006 3:40:43 PM PST by Pukin Dog (Sans Reproache)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Pukin Dog

LMAO...he'd surely have more money over there than he will now, back home.


14 posted on 01/03/2006 3:44:41 PM PST by tongue-tied
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: Pukin Dog
Makes one wonder...

Is he a braver man for:

(a) going into harm's way in Iraq, or

(b) proposing to his girlfriend in the middle of a bowl game on national television while not having a clue as to whether or not she would accept?
15 posted on 01/03/2006 3:56:41 PM PST by FortWorthPatriot (Semper Fidelis)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: Dog

I saw it live, but thanks for the ping! :-) And a happy new year to you and yours!


16 posted on 01/03/2006 4:28:23 PM PST by Coop (FR = a lotta talk, but little action)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: Pukin Dog

LOL. New keyboard needed!


17 posted on 01/03/2006 6:59:39 PM PST by CedarDave
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: CedarDave

My best to the newly engaged couple.
Brilliant, simply brilliant from a PR perspective.
I'm sure there are thousands of similar (and better) stories that we never hear about.
I think the Bush Admin is slowly figuring out how to penetrate the fog and dis-information put forth by the MSM.
This Admin may be slow, but when they finally get with the program, I'll admit they are d*mn effective.


18 posted on 01/03/2006 8:44:07 PM PST by mikeybaby (long time lurker)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: SandRat

BTTT


19 posted on 01/04/2006 3:07:21 AM PST by E.G.C.
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: FortWorthPatriot

http://www.rayandfaith.com/LTVERA that is his website. I hope everyone is well. He did not have to be to brave to propose to me, because he knows I love him so much. :-)


20 posted on 01/07/2006 9:52:04 AM PST by CFaithJarvis
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson