COLUMBIA, S.C. – The United Service Organizations hosted a pre-game tailgate party with food, games and entertainment for service members prior to the University of South Carolina’s annual Military Appreciation football game against The Citadel, Nov. 19, at Williams-Brice Stadium.
“The event is a whole day about celebrating our soldiers,” said Basil Trobridge, S.C. USO Advisory Chairman. “It starts with the tailgating party and later in the afternoon is the military appreciation day at the football game. We try to pack in as many hours of appreciation as possible to let them all know we are here for them.”
Joanie Thresher, Director of the USO S.C., explained that vendors throughout the state donate all the food and this year the National Guard donated the facility so that they can provide food and beverages for military personnel before the game.
“It’s something to let the military know how much we appreciate their service. This event is to show that the community constantly wants to give,” said Thresher. “In this case, they donate to the USO and we give it to the military.”
Numerous organizations who donated to the USO event dropped by the tailgate to see the soldiers to include North American Rescue, a group which provides tactical medical equipment for the military.
“A lot of folks don’t really understand what every soldier gives to the country,” said Sam Wyman III, President of North American Rescue. “Having been in the military, I know a lot of the stressors on service members and their families and they need someone like the people of the USO.”
Most soldiers and Marines carry least one of their products with them in combat, explained Wyman.
“What we do at North American Rescue is all about the soldier and we focus on those in combat, trying to decrease preventable death is our mission,” he said. “The USO supports all of our troops. They support troops overseas and they support troops here, especially in South Carolina with Fort Jackson. They need a lot of help and the USO is one of the best organizations to help troops and families.”
“Every event with the USO is special so my family and I came down here to help. We all believe in the military. We want to help to give back,” added Wyman.
“It’s important to make sure everyone remembers what’s going on around the world,” said Trobridge. “Here we are in a nice warm building with food and drink when there are a lot of soldiers who aren’t.”
According to Trobridge, the biggest challenge the USO faces is families of military members.
“Everyday you see them (families) dropping soldiers off or picking them up,” said Trobridge. “It’s happy coming in and it’s sad going out, so it’s a challenge to keep a smile on everybody’s face.”
Adding to the festivities, the 246th S.C. Army National Guard Band Jazz Ensemble took to the stage during the tailgate to entertain party-goers.
“The band is able to come out here and represent as Citizen-Soldiers and be a visible part of the National Guard to show that we are here and this is what we do,” said Chief Warrant Officer 3 Jessie Moreland, commander of the 246th Army Band.
For the game itself, Maj. Gen. Robert E. Livingston Jr., the Adjutant General of South Carolina, was an honorary captain. He was invited to toss the coin during pre-game events.
Showing their unity, all branches of the military provided a color guard for the halftime show and the 248th Army Band from Fort Jackson performed in conjunction with the USC band.
Also during the halftime ceremonies, the USC Director of Athletics, Eric Hyman, presented Sgt. 1st Class Tracey Blakeney, a S.C. National Guard Soldier, with a signed USC football.
Additionally, Fort Jackson provided a seven-soldier firing party to honor the fallen with a 21-volly salute and many of South Carolina’s Gold Star families were also honored on the field.
“It’s inspiring for me because I lost a good friend in Iraq who was a graduate of The Citadel,” said Staff Sgt. Chess Johnson, a member of the firing party. “It’s awe-inspiring to be able to do this and honor him at the same time.”
The halftime show wrapped up with an F-16 Fighter Jet flyover from the 169th Fighter Wing on McEntire Joint National Guard Base.
“The (halftime) show was really something to remember, flyover and all,” said Thresher.
Moreland eloquently summarized the importance of honoring the military and how vital it is to remember those who are still far from home.
“The military appreciation game is important to keep all the soldiers in mind,” he said. “We often take a lot of the everyday things for granted as we are here tailgating but we still have brothers and sisters that are out there in harm’s way. We always need to keep them in mind because of what they do overseas.”
| Date Taken: |
11.19.2011 |
| Date Posted: |
11.22.2011 12:23 |
| Story ID: |
80418 |
| Location: |
COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA, US |
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59 |
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This work, South Carolina Football joins USO in honoring the military, by SFC Erica Jaros, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
