Posted on 11/08/2005 4:52:00 PM PST by angelsonmyside
76 recruits ‘sign up’ at 49ers game
by Staff Sgt. Connie L. Bias 364th Recruiting Squadron
11/8/2005 - SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. -- Seventy-six delayed entry program recruits swore into the Air Force before a crowd of 70,000 at a San Francisco 49ers game here Nov. 6.
The recruits -- some traveled 100 miles to the Monster Park football field -- enlisted through the 364th Recruiting Squadron out of Sacramento, Calif.
The annual swear-in started in 2004, when 49ers entertainment director Lorie Murphy jumped at the chance to beef up the team’s Military Appreciation Game halftime show.
“The crowd response was overwhelming,” Ms. Murphy said. “The event captivated the entire halftime show -– the response was as loud as when the team scores a game-winning touchdown.” ...
http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123012844
Well .. to get that reaction from a San Francisco crowd is truly remarkable.
I was at the game and it was very emotional. The crowd really supported it and I didn't hear one single catcall or disparaging remark. The article didn't mention that the joint forces Choir sang the Star Spangled Banner and there was also a touching tribute to Veterans who won the Purple Heart during half time. They had Purple Heart winners from WW II, Korea, Vietnam and Iraq come on the field and they were surrounded by local high school girls holding huge purple banners overhead. The banner formation was in the shape of a heart.
I commented to my buddy how different this was from the last time I attended a baseball game at Candlestick with my family. We had the bad luck to go on Queer Day where they all celebrated getting Aids and brought out some huge quilt to cover the baseball field. I wanted to puke that day. Sunday sure made up for it big time.
Wow, I'm glad you shared that with us. Shame they didn't put all that in the article. When my son graduated boot camp, the flag ceremony had us all in tears, including my husband. I can just imagine how emotional it must have been and how many grown men were fighting back a tear or two.
I thought it was just me...
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