CADETS ASSIST WITH MILITARY BOWL EVENTS F
ive United States Air Force Academy cadets experienced close encounters with real-life heroes during the recent bowl season. C1C Christopher Wilson, C3C Nicholas Jasper, C4C Gail Muggill, C4C Patrick Walker and C4C Victor Kyle traveled to the 2016 Military Bowl at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis on Dec. 27, 2016, to serve as volunteers at the event. Cadets Wilson, Jasper and Muggill drove convertibles carrying seven Medal of Honor recipients who were part of the pre-game parade. According to John Pomeroy ’70, USAFA cadets have been part of the Military Bowl festivities since 2011, when the Air Force Falcons played in the bowl game. Pomeroy says he was friends with Steve Beck, president and executive director of the Military Bowl, and suggested that cadets from the Washington, D.C., area be recruited to host and escort the Medal of Honor recipients. Cadets and Midshipmen from Annapolis have served as volunteers ever since. Prior to the annual game, a parade through downtown Annapolis is conducted, with the Medal of Honor recipients as key dignitaries. Apart from the parade and game, cadets also were invited to a special pre-game reception. They took part in a panel discussion put on by Congressional Medal of Honor Society with the Medal of Honor recipients. That was followed by an informal group discussion with cadets and midshipmen with medal winners Navy SEAL Senior Chief Special Warfare operator Ed Byers and Army Capt. Florent Groberg. “It has provided the cadets and midshipmen with a great opportunity for one-on-one interaction with the recipients,” Pomeroy says. “Many Medal of Honor recipients have emphasized to me how much they enjoy interacting with the cadets and midshipmen during the Military Bowl festivities. With very few exceptions, the cadets and midshipmen have impressed me greatly with their maturity and their intellectual and emotional curiosity in getting to know the recipients.”
Top to bottom: C4C Gail Muggill awaits her turn in the parade lineup. She was able to drive a Medal of Honor recipient in the parade. Cadets and midshipmen particiapte in an informal discussion with Medal of Honor winners Ed Byers (front left) and Florent Groberg. C1C Christopher Wilson (center) and C3C Nicholas Jasper (right) pose for a picture at the 2016 Military Bowl game at Annapolis. Checkpoints · March 2017