Photo By Staff Sgt. Frances Goch | D.J. Johnson, guard for the San Diego Chargers, signs memorabilia for Marines and...... read more read more
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SAN DIEGO — San Diego Chargers and their military appreciation sponsor, United Services Automobile Association, hosted more than 120 Marines and Sailors with the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing and Marine Corps Air Station Miramar at a training camp practice, Aug. 5.
The Marines and Sailors were invited to the Chargers Training Facility to watch practice and have a chance to interact with players and coaches throughout the event.
The Marines and Sailors also received a “chalk talk” from former Chargers linebacker, Billy Ray Smith, Jr., about the history of football, how it has progressed and where it is headed. Smith also drew some parallels between the players and Service members.
“The game that we play is pretty much just a mockup of what [Service members] do for real,” said Smith. “They take territory and they give it back, and they surrender and at the end one side wins. But this is football, and you get to take your jersey off and go home when it is all over. [Service members] do it for real and … it’s the thing that makes this country great.”
Toward the end of the event, attendees took pictures with their favorite Chargers players and received autographs, to the delight of the fans.
“It isn’t every day you get to wake up and say ‘I’m going to go watch the Chargers practice,’” said Sgt. Hai Vuong, imagery analyst with Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron (MWHS) 3. “That’s really cool.”
The event is one of many held throughout the year by the National Football League and USAA to show appreciation to the military.
“It is an honor and privilege to have you guys out here and for us to thank you for what you do for the country,” said Mike McCoy, head coach for the Chargers. “We are very fortunate to have the jobs that we do and it is because of what you guys do. That is why the NFL game and the country we live in is the way it is. Thank you very much. We greatly appreciate everything you guys do for us.”
| Date Taken: | 08.05.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 08.06.2014 16:24 |
| Story ID: | 138503 |
| Location: | SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 97 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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