Community relations score touchdown

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Kevin Wallace
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  Roaring crowds of fans cheered and boasted their hopeful wins as pyrotechnics boomed and players ascended through the smoke onto Wembley Stadium's field, London, Oct. 23.

Fans on both sides of the Atlantic watched as the Chicago Bears versus Tampa Bay Buccaneers kickoff was minutes away, and the atmosphere at Wembley was exhilarating.

More than 500 Royal and U.S. Air Force Airmen ran onto the field, some carrying an enormous 150-foot Buccaneers flag and others filing into formations with 1-meter-square pieces of red, white or blue plastic to silhouette the American flag as opera singer, Noah Stewart, sang the Star-Spangled Banner.

At the close of the national anthem, Service members flipped their plastic squares over to form the Union flag and opera singer, Katherine Jenkins, sang God Save the Queen.

Bears fans relished the night as Matt Forte carried their offense, running 145 yards and scoring a touchdown at the fifth-annual NFL regular-season game hosted at Wembley.

Though the masses were obviously there to cheer on their teams, many took a moment to pay gratitude to the men and women of the British and American armed forces, who keep them safe at home and abroad.

"The troops are out there in Afghanistan, Libya and other places tonight fighting for those of us here in England and I'd say I feel a bit guilty as I get to enjoy this game on their watch," said Londoner and NFL enthusiast Mick Coyle.

Coyle was wearing a Tampa Bay jersey and Manchester United hat, and said he's been to all five NFL games at Wembley and really hoped for a win.

Coincidentally, both of Coyle's teams are owned by the same family and his soccer team, Manchester United, lost to Manchester City 6-1 earlier that day. A Buccaneers win would lift his spirit, he said.

Chicago beat Tampa Bay 24-18 which gave the Buccaneers their second loss in three years while playing in England.

With about 77,000 fans in attendance, a wide-array of NFL jerseys could be seen. Adding to the mixed shirt colors were sporadic military and even high school football uniforms.

Sporting his Lakenheath High School Lancer jersey, freshman Marcos Blount, son of Master Sgt. Benjamin Blount, 100th Air Refueling Wing Safety, said he wasn't a Buccaneers or Bears fan but was proud to be at the venue none-the-less.

"This is more than just a football game," said Blount. "We're Americans living in England and it's really cool that a piece of American culture has found its way here through the NFL, and that my dad and other [Service members] were honored today."

One of those honored was Airman 1st Class Andrew Patry, 56th Rescue Squadron. Patry recently returned from a deployment with the Royal Navy and said he felt the respect America and Great Britian have for each other's militaries and cultures is profound.

"I just returned from a deployment aboard a British aircraft carrier supporting operations in Libya," said Patry, a Seattle native and Seattle Seahawks fan. "It's fantastic to see the support for the U.S. military here. When I joined the Air Force two years ago, I never would have thought I'd deploy with the Royal Navy or watch American football live in London."

Though fans couldn't agree on which team should win, everyone interviewed agreed on one thing -- the support British and American armed forces have for each other is second to none, and that was evident once again at Wembley Stadium where a handful of American Service members scored one more touchdown for British-American community relations.