Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Zach Sheely | Soldiers with the 2nd Combined Arms Battalion, 137th Infantry Regiment and 2nd...... read more read more
“I got to meet a ton (of players), more than I can even remember right now,” said Yelton, a cannon crewman with the 2nd Battalion, 130th Field Artillery, Kansas Army National Guard. “I got to meet Alex Smith. Got to meet (Dontari) Poe, Jamal Charles, Marcus Peters.”
At the beginning of every football season, the Chiefs invite military service members to their training camp to watch practice, get autographs, snap photos and rub elbows with players and coaches.
This year, 10 Kansas Army National Guard Soldiers, representing the 2nd Combined Arms Battalion, 137th Infantry Regiment and 2-130 FA, had the opportunity to attend Military Appreciation Day, held Aug. 18 at the Chiefs training camp facility at Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph, Missouri.
At the conclusion of practice, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid invited the throng of service members onto the field for a meet and greet with players.
“I’m a die-hard Chiefs fan myself,” said Spc. Mitchell Stepp, a cannon crewman with Battery B, 2-130 FA, “so being able to get face-to-face interaction with the players was awesome.”
On the other side of the coin, Military Appreciation Day also gave Chiefs players a rare opportunity for face time with service members.
“It’s easy to take for granted the freedoms that we have,” said Jarrod
Pughsley, Chiefs offensive lineman. “But actually putting names to faces and seeing people out there fighting for us is a great appreciation. A lot of people are thanking us for staying after practice, but really the honor is all on us. I appreciate what they do for us.”
Defensive lineman Dontari Poe signed dozens of autographs for service members, but said maybe it should be the other way around.
“For them to ask me for my autograph, I halfway want to ask for theirs,” said Poe. “But it’s appreciated, it’s definitely appreciated.”
Stepp said the feeling of appreciation is mutual.
“This is a great experience for us, the fans, the players, for all of us to get together and see what we’re working with, see what they’re working with and get together and appreciate what we do for each other,” he said.
The Kansas Guard Soldiers also had the chance to show off what they work with – specifically an M1A2 Abrams Main Battle Tank from the 2-137 CAB and a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System launcher from the 2-130 FA – to Chiefs fans and their children.
“I’d hope they are the future generation of the military,” said Staff Sgt. Jonathan Lofgren, readiness noncommissioned officer, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2-137 CAB. “If you want to join (the military), I think a lot of times it comes at birth. It’s not really a spur of the moment idea.”
While there were approximately 150 service members representing all branches of the military in attendance, the Chiefs also invited veterans to partake in Military Appreciation Day.
“Once you’re in uniform, you’re kind of always in uniform and there’s always that sacred bond, that fraternal lifestyle within the ranks,” said Lofgren. “Prior service, whether its 10 years ago or 50 years ago, there’s always something that we have in common.”
| Date Taken: | 08.18.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 09.27.2016 14:05 |
| Story ID: | 210737 |
| Location: | ST. JOSEPH, MO, US |
| Hometown: | TOPEKA, KS, US |
| Web Views: | 68 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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