Photo By Staff Sgt. Michael Carden | Sgt. John Siler, a personnel noncommissioned officer with the 174th Air Defense...... read more read more
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In a rare occurrence, the crowd inside Ohio Stadium, home of The Ohio State University football team, was cheering wildly for the opposing team. The reason was not because of the names on the back of their jerseys, but the flag on their sleeves. For the first time in their schools’ histories, the Ohio State Buckeyes played the Black Knights of the U. S. Military Academy.
Front and center were members of the Ohio National Guard. More than 50 Soldiers and Airmen representing units from all across Ohio were part of a massive American flag display, stretching across the width of the field during the playing of the national anthem before the game. As the final notes of “the home of the brave” rolled across the stadium, two UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters of the Ohio Army National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 137th Aviation Regiment flew low over the crowd, to cheers and chants of “USA! USA!”
Leading the home team onto the field before the game was Sgt. John Siler, a member of the 174th Air Defense Artillery Brigade and a Purple Heart recipient. Siler was injured while deployed in 2004 to Balad, Iraq as an M-60 machine gunner, when the supply convoy that Siler’s unit was escorting was hit by improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
“I’m a huge Buckeye fan, but to come out carrying the United States flag, playing against Army,” Siler said. “Today wearing the uniform, I’m rooting for Army. Next week, I’ll be rooting for the Buckeyes.”
Also part of the festivities were the Golden Knights, the Army’s award-winning parachute team. Trailing smoke and flags, they put on a show for the crowd, performing the aerial acrobatics that have made them world famous. When they had all safely landed, they presented the game ball to the officials.
The Ohio National Guard has a long-standing relationship with The Ohio State University, and often participates in various military appreciation events with Buckeye sports teams throughout the year.
“It’s a great way to get out and have some fun with the community,” said 1st Lt. Aaron Smith, a public affairs officer with the Ohio National Guard. “Most of the time you only see service members when we are helping after a disaster. This is a chance to get out and enjoy the game and celebrate with everyone else.”
This was the rare game when most of the fans in attendance cheered for everyone involved, rooting for the Buckeyes as well as some of the people who defend the nation. Despite a 38-7 OSU victory on the field, it was a winning day for all.
| Date Taken: | 09.16.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 10.06.2017 18:22 |
| Story ID: | 248618 |
| Location: | COLUMBUS, OHIO, US |
| Web Views: | 23 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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