Northwestern University Athletics
Veterans Day Activities Part of Wildcat Football Gameday Last Saturday
11/11/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 11, 2008
EVANSTON, Ill. -- The Wildcats kicked off the football gameday with a pregame concert in Wildcat Alley featuring country singer and Army Sergeant 1st Class, Jamie Buckley, who sang original songs as well as some of today's most popular country hits. Fans who stopped by to listen also received a free copy of SGT Buckley's CD before he went inside Ryan Field to sing the National Anthem. Sergeant Buckley enlisted in the U.S. Army in July 1988 as a Chemical Operations Specialist.
Staff Sergeant Wendy Johnson of the Illinois National Guard ran the American Flag out with the Wildcat Football team for the National Anthem.  |
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His unit participated in Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm, and was awarded the Valorous Unit Award. Sergeant Buckley is currently a Career Recruiter where he tours the country supporting the recruiting mission through his music
Due to inclement weather, paratroopers (from left to right) Sergeant Richard Sloan, Sergeant Chris Clark, Sergeant Josh Seal and Staff Sergeant James Hackett were unable to jump into Ryan Field with the game ball. |
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The Northwestern ROTC presented the colors and Staff Sergeant Wendy Johnson of the Illinois National Guard ran the American Flag out with the Wildcat Football team for the National Anthem. Paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Divisions' All American Free Fall Team were set to deliver the game ball, American flag and Northwestern flag on the 50-yard line after the anthem, but due to inclement weather the plane was unable to take Sergeant Chris Clark, Sergeant Josh Seal, Sergeant Richard Sloan and Staff Sergeant James Hackett up to make the jump. The Wildcats thank American Airlines and the Wyndham in Glenview for their support of the paratroopers over the weekend
Members of the armed services met Coach Fitzgerald (left) after the National Anthem, including the honorary captains (from left to right) Sergeant Daniel Casara, Major Ok Kim, Sergeant Jordan Nechkash and Private First Class Giovanni Sciortin |
For the coin toss to start the game, four members of the Army served as honorary captains:
• Sergeant Daniel Casara served in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 3. Sergeant Casara was injured in 2005, and after 24 surgeries he was able to walk with the Wildcats' team captains on Saturday.
• Major Ok Kim from the Army earned numerous medals including the Afghanistan Campaign Medal and two Army Commendation Medals, which are awarded to members who distinguish themselves by an act of heroism, extraordinary achievement or service.
• Sergeant Jordan Nechkash was a Generator Mechanic and Petroleum Supply Specialist in the United States Army.
• Private First Class Giovanni Sciortino is a Chicago native who enlisted in the Army last year and is currently a flight operations specialist.
Joel Belding and Quentin Williams of the Wildcat Football Team visited the Jesse Brown Veteran's Hospital in Chicago on Monday. |
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The members of the armed services were the special guests of the Wildcats so they watched the game with Athletic Department Staff and Coaches, including meeting Coach Fitzgerald on the sideline before the game.
The Wildcats final Veterans Day activity was a visit to the Jesse Brown VA Hospital in Chicago. Offensive lineman Joel Belding and linebacker Quentin Williams spent Monday afternoon talking with veterans, as well as taking photos and signing autographs. Belding and Williams also gave the veterans Wildcat knit hats before they left the hospital. Last year, members of the Wildcat Football Team brought Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream to veterans at the Jesse Brown VA Hospital, which was inspired by NU alum Stephen Colbert. A portion of the sales of Colbert's Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream flavor, Americone Dream, are donated to veterans. Last season, the Wildcats teamed up with Colbert to donate a portion of the Wildcat ticket sales for the Veterans Day game to the USO of Illinois.
Click here to see more of the Veterans Day activities from 2007.
