Army flyover to kickoff Super Bowl

Army News Service ^

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

 

 

Army flyover to kickoff Super Bowl

WASHINGTON (Army News Service, Jan. 30, 2004) -- U.S. Army aviation assets will help kickoff America's most-watched annual sporting event Feb. 1, when four Apache helicopters fly over Reliant Stadium in Houston prior to Super Bowl XXXVIII.

The 2nd Battalion of the 149th Aviation Regiment, Texas Army National Guard, will fly the Apaches over the Stadium just before the Carolina Panthers begin playing the New England Patriots.

The retractable-roof stadium will be open and plans call for the helicopters to appear following the National Anthem, Army officials said.

"It's one of those once-in-a-lifetime things," said Lt. Col. Bo Cenyon, who will co-pilot one of the Apaches. He said four of the eight pilots returned from Bosnia in October and other members of the battalion are currently there now serving with the Stabilization Force.

The Flyover request came from Reliant Stadium and Super Bowl officials, and has the approval of the Department of Defense.

The Texas Guard flight is in keeping with tight security plans, which will include a 12-hour civilian no-fly zone in the area of the 70,000-seat stadium, officials said. Homeland Security officials approved the opening of the stadium's dome.

The North American Aerospace Defense Command and United States Northern Command are taking actions to deter any possible threats against Sunday's game and festivities, according to Mike Perini, director of public affairs for both commands. In their homeland defense roles, NORAD and NORTHCOM join local, state, federal and other military efforts to protect Americans.

NFL will salute U.S. service members around the world during the Super Bowl. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Richard B. Myers will participate in pregame festitivities. More than 5,000 Super Bowl game programs were sent by the NFL to military stationed overseas.

CBS Sports officials said they will televise members of the military stationed in Baghdad watching the game. More than 800,000 servicemen and women in 165 countries will be able to watch the game on the American Armed Forces Radio and Television Service.

Super Bowl XXXVIII will be televised by CBS on Feb. 1 and watched by more than 130 million viewers in the United States with a potential worldwide audience of 1 billion viewers. The Super Bowl is annually the nation's highest-rated TV program and the most-watched single-day sporting event. Game time is 6 p.m. ET.

The Super Bowl salute caps off a season-long tribute by the NFL to America's military. The NFL kicked off the season Sept. 4 with an event on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., recognizing "Operation Tribute to Freedom," which salutes troops returning home from the Iraq and Afghanistan theaters.

(Editor's note: The American Forces Press Service, the Army Community Relations and Outreach Division, NFL and CBS provided information for this article.)

[dljordan]

The Air Force did a flyover of Boulder, Colorado a couple of years ago for some event or other and the Commie Weenies there complained that the F-16's "scared them". It would have been funny if it hadn't been so sad.

[FreePaul]

The folks in Baghdad will be watching it on a movie screen in a former Hussein palace...

Does the NFL know about this? I heard that they shut down some big screen shows for their own silly reasons.

[blackie]

Either team winning is fine with me ~ I have favored the American league teams over the years. :):)

[SandRat]

Well, then they better not watch this or else they'll soil their pants. These birds are just downright ugly, mean and loud; unlike the sleek bodies of the F-16/18s.

[Alamo-Girl]

Bump!

[Flyer]

U.S. Army aviation assets will help kickoff America's most-watched annual sporting event Feb. 1, when four Apache helicopters fly over Reliant Stadium in Houston prior to Super Bowl XXXVIII.

Eyes to the sky, Houston!

*PING!*

As always, a FReep mail will get you on or off this Houston topics ping list.

[hobson]

Cool. I think I'll take a drive over to Reliant Stadium and watch.

[ChefKeith]

or fly in through the roof and wave to the crowd

[MEG33]

I say amen to that,TruthNtegrity.Thank you,Ragtime.

[TheMom]

Yeah, we can all climb out on the roof today.

[CindyDawg]

The guy on the weather channel said last night that yall may get some rain and that it takes about 10 minutes to close the roof so take an umbrella. Security going to love this.

[Flyer]

Yeah, we can all climb out on the roof today.

I ain't falling for that. It's just a trick to get us to help Eaker take down the Christmas lights.

[Flyer]

Security going to love this

There will be a lot of umbrellas in the dumpsters tomorrow morning. At one point I heard the roof would be open regardless of the weather, but now I hear otherwise. We shall see. . .

[TheMom]

It's just a trick to get us to help Eaker take down the Christmas lights.

Never happen, as TheMom knows that I would fall off the roof!!!

[humblegunner]

Yeah, we can all climb out on the roof today.

I want to climb on the roof!

[Sgt_Schultze]

And a fabulous display that will be! Toby Keith is scheduled for pregame entertainment. What a crowning finale the flyover would be after he (hopefully) performs this song...

I'm just trying to be a father
Raise a daughter and a son
Be a lover to their mother
Everything to everyone
Up and at 'em, bright and early
I'm all business in my suit
Yeah, I'm dressed up for success
From my head down to my boots

I don't do it for the money
There's bills that I can't pay
I don't do it for the glory
I just do it anyway
Providing for our future's my responsibility
Yeah I'm real good under pressure
Being all that I can be

And I can't call in sick on Mondays
when the weekends been too strong
I just work straight through the holidays
And sometimes all night long
You can bet that I stand ready when the wolf growls at the door
Hey, I'm solid, hey I'm steady, hey, I'm true down to the core

And I will always do my duty no matter what the price
I've counted up the cost, I know the sacrifice
Oh, and I don't want to die for you
but if dyin's asked of me
I'll bear that cross with honor
'cause freedom don't come free

I'm an American soldier, an American
beside my brothers and my sisters I will proudly take a stand
when liberty's in jeopardy I will always do what's right
I'm out here on the front lines
Sleep in peace tonight
American soldier, I'm an American soldier

Yeah, an American soldier, an American
beside my brothers and my sisters I will proudly take a stand
when liberty's in jeopardy I will always do what's right
I'm out here on the front lines
So Sleep in peace tonight
American soldier, I'm an American
An American, an American soldier

American Soldier, Toby Keith, Shock 'n Y'all

[Jerez2]

Yeah, the weenies in San Francisco complain every time the Blue Angels do a flyover... now there's talk of not having them come anymore. I'll never forget seeing them for the first time and my heart swelling with gratitude that these guys are on OUR side! As for the weenies, my reply to them is: "Those men are up there protecting all of us, including you, no matter how little you deserve it!"

[Txslady]

We heard something (vibrations as well) flying over (low) earlier - ran outside and saw the helicopters! What a sound!

[Flyer]

We heard something (vibrations as well) flying over (low) earlier

Same here. I'm sure some of them are on security duty, some for the show.

[LibWhacker]

What are the pilots' names? Any of them happen to belong to the religion of peace? Sorry, gotta ask since we don't have the good sense to intern the b*st*rds.