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Delta Company (wearing red) and Echo Company (wearing black), of the OHARNG Recruiting and Retention Battalion, pose for a group picture after a flag football game played on Nov. 19. In order to participate, both units donated coats or cash for the Cleveland "Coats for Kids" campaign. Company E won the game with a final score of 28-21, but the real winners were the children who will recieve the 100 coats collected.

Assigned to the Recruiting and Retention Battalion, Foxtrot Company (pictured) defeated Echo Company 36-12 in a game of flag football Dec. 8. To play, both teams collected items for the family of Sgt. Robert Burris, a Retention NCO who lost his home in a fire on the eve of Thanksgiving.

NORTHEAST OHIO—Members of Delta and Echo Companies of the Recruiting and Retention Battalion, Ohio Army National Guard, decided to give a little back to their local community Nov. 19. The two Buckeye recruiting companies went head-to-head in a flag football game to support the “Coats for Kids” program sponsored by radio station WTAM in Cleveland.

Staff Sgt. William Kearns, team captain of Delta Company from the Cleveland area, and Sgt. Raymond Greene, team captain of Echo Company from the Canton area, got together to establish the rules for their battle on the football field. As part of their plan, competitors and spectators would be encouraged to bring a coat or other donation for the “Coats for Kids” program.

In the late afternoon, the two teams met on the field at the Brook Park Armory, and the battle began. It was the perfect day for this event as the game-time temperature was around 32 degrees, and the sky looked as if a Lake Erie-sized snow machine was going to start blowing.

While the score was 21-14 at halftime in favor of Delta Company, the Echo Company team stormed back with 14 unanswered points in the second half to win 28-21 as the game wrapped up around dusk.

“The real winners were the kids that will receive the coats and donations,” said Sgt. Maj. Scott Hutt, noncommissioned officer in charge of the Northeast Recruiting Region. “Everyone who participated and/or donated a coat should be proud—we collected an entire (Ford) F-350 truck load!”

The next morning, Kearns and Sgt. David Dixon delivered more than 100 coats to the “Coats for Kids” warehouse. They were warmly thanked by staffers there for the donation of coats to help underprivileged children in Northeastern Ohio.

“It was so nice to see so many guests and visitors show up in the cold to help support this first-time event,” Kearns said. “Sgt. Greene and I would especially like to thank Sgt. Maj. Hutt, 1st Sgt. Jerry Coleman (Delta Company) and 1st Sgt. Chuck Nikic (Echo Company) for letting us take time to give back to the community.”

Hoping to continue their winning streak, Echo Company Soldiers challenged the third unit in the Northeast Region, Foxtrot Company, to a flag football game on Dec. 8. This game served as a collection site for donations for the family of Sgt. Robert Burris, a retention NCO who lost all his possessions in a house fire the night before Thanksgiving. The units collected food items, paper goods, clothing, furniture and toys for his three young children.

“The Soldiers from both companies hope these items will help the Burris family through these trying times,” said Nikic, who graciously conceded the win to 1st Sgt Ricky Beadles, as Foxtrot Company came out on top 36-12.

“I’ve always been proud to be a part of the Northeast Region,” Hutt said. “I’m more proud today.”

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