Soccer game provides reminder

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Jessica Clark
  • 60th Air Mobility Public Affairs
TRAVIS AFB, Calif. --  I recently had the privilege of coordinating a military appreciation event for a Major League Soccer game.

The event coordinator asked for 100 volunteers from each branch of service to participate in their halftime show to showcase the military and all that they do.

Of course, we had a few glitches in getting everything together, but nevertheless, our Airmen stepped up. Four hours before the game even started, our volunteers were out in the 100-degree heat, practicing as sweat drenched their uniforms.

It was hectic, hot and, after seeing everyone's tired, sweaty faces, I became nervous, overwhelmed and hoped that everyone didn't hate the lieutenant for their exhausting Saturday. Surely, everyone was still excited, right?

After a small break, I entered the stadium and felt overwhelmed again, but in a good way. Thousands of fans were carrying little American flags. I saw several fans shaking our service members' hands, thanking them for their service and letting them go to the front of the lines.

At one point a man stopped me, bowed his head with his hands clasped together and in broken English said, "For you, ma'am, thank you," and gave me his flag.

The game started and, soon enough, it was the 35th minute of the game, which was game time for our folks.

They all formed up, almost 400 of them, and were ready to go. The announcer introduced each branch one by one and they all marched onto the field. Huge patriotic balloons floated above the field and the stadium lights casted the perfect shadow on the 50,000 fans who waved their American flags in the air. The noise from the cheers pulsed through my body and I felt a sense of pride I had never felt before.

Those fans, young and old, black and white, Earthquakes and Galaxy fans, were all chanting for one common thing, their country and the service members who represented it that night.

Many of these folks have no idea what we go through on a daily basis. They have no idea what a deployment is or what it's like to be away from family for a long period of time. All they know is that we are their military. We fight day in and day out to protect them and their freedoms.

They screamed at the top of their lungs, "U-S-A, U-S-A," and, "We love America," not knowing the details, but knowing that we are who keeps them safe.

I write all of this to make one simple point. Take pride in your service. Don't be disgruntled because you have a lot of rules to follow. Be confident in knowing that because you chose to set yourself to a higher standard, your family, your friends and your country is free.

Wear your uniform and keep your head high even on the worst of days, because whether they are close to you or not, someone, somewhere is out there cheering for you.