​ASU Salute Service Members Saturday at Annual Military Appreciation Game

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By Hazel Scott/ASU

Alabama State University joins millions each year in saluting our heroes in the nation’s armed forces.  In keeping with that tradition, on Saturday, September 9, ASU  hosted this year’s Military Appreciation Day (Football) Game honoring those who have served or are currently serving in the military.

The nation’s heroes were honored during the game between ASU and Miles College at the ASU Stadium. 

 “We live in a military town and having Detachment 019 here on campus, we are giving the United States Armed Forces a platform to educate the next wave of young men and women who will be officers to lead our armed forces. We are doing our small part at Alabama State every single year that we commission a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Air Force. So, it’s very important that we all chip in in the defense of our great country,” said Col. (ret) Gregory Clark, ASU’s vice president of Institutional Advancement.

Honorary co-captains of the day’s game were Brigadier General Terrance Adams, who is a graduate of the Reserve Officer Training Corps at ASU – Detachment 019, and retired Sgt.1st Class Vincent Dillard, husband of ASU BOT President, Brenda Brown Dillard.

“The Wing Commander of Maxwell Air Force Base, Col.  Ryan Richardson, led the team out of the tunnel along with some other ROTC members,” said Clark.

Activities

Game Day featured a host of activities, namely a parachute jump with the jumper landing in the center of ASU Stadium carrying the Game Day coin; a military hospitality tent with complimentary food was opened to active duty and retired military service members who presented a valid ID; and games and a game simulator.

Fans arrived early so they could witness the military flyover by the C130 aircraft from Little Rock Air Force Base.  The choregraphed flyover took place after the singing of the National Anthem.

ASU partnered with the Alabama National Guard to bring in an 18-wheeler military vehicle that was on display under the scoreboard.

“On the outside of the stadium, there was a football toss and other things that the Alabama National Guard set up,” Clark said.

More than 60 Junior ROTC members throughout the Montgomery Public Schools were invited to attend the game. “They are our special guests,” Clark pointed out.

Active duty and retired military service members with a valid ID card  were admitted free on Game Day.