| Buckeyes honor Ohio National Guardmembers |
COLUMBUS, Ohio—Several dozen Ohio National Guardmembers were provided a rare treat Nov. 10 as The Ohio State University honored them with a military appreciation day during the Buckeyes’ final home football game of the 2007 regular season. The Buckeyes hosted military members from all branches including 42 men and women—all who have been deployed overseas in support of the Global War on Terrorism—representing Ohio National Guard units from throughout the state. University officials provided each with special seating directly behind the south end zone in the more than 100,000-seat stadium and recognized their contributions to community, state and nation throughout the afternoon. The Ohio National Guard also provided a treat of its own. Just before game time, four F-16 fighter jets from the Toledo-based 180th Fighter Wing roared over the stadium’s capacity crowd. After a moment of silence to pay respect to the men and women who have fallen in service to the United States, the university’s ROTC cadets raised the colors. At the end of a competitive and close first quarter, the Ohio troops marched onto the field and received a thunderous standing ovation by more than 102,000 appreciative fans. In between cheers and applause, pre-recorded “shout-outs” from deployed troops were broadcast on the JumboTron. Maj. Gen. Gregory L. Wayt, Ohio adjutant general, said the tribute to Ohio’s Soldiers and Airmen was well-earned. “Guardmembers from Ohio have served and sacrificed to defend the world and in support of the Global War on Terrorism and I am pleased that they will have an opportunity to be recognized in front of thousands of people and on national television,” Wayt said. The university also honored one of its own—Marine Maj. Ray J. Mendoza, an OSU graduate and two-time letterman in wrestling. Mendoza was killed in action Nov. 14, 2005 while serving in Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The OSU ROTC program was also recognized and its senior cadets were highlighted. During halftime, the troops returned to the field where each received a small American flag while a large American flag, about 12 feet long, was unfurled in the end zone. All veterans in attendance were then asked to rise and be acknowledged with the troops on the field. At the end of the third quarter, the massive crowd sang along with Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA” as a video displayed the veterans in attendance along with a list of deceased OSU veterans and their respective conflicts. Although the Buckeyes ultimately fell to the University of Illinois Fighting Illini 28-21, costing them their No. 1 ranking and ending a 20-game winning streak in regular season conference match-ups, the loss did little to damper the troops’ spirits. “We have great seats and we couldn’t ask for more!” said Air National Guard Master Sgt. Timothy M. Deady of the Springfield-based 178th Fighter Wing. “Go Bucks!” |
