SAN ANGELO, Texas -- Angelo State University hosted their annual Military Appreciation Day game against Northern Michigan University, which was free to all active duty, their dependents and former military, at the LeGrand Stadium Sept. 9.

The Military Appreciation Day is one of several events that the San Angelo Community provides to show their support for Team Goodfellow and all military members.

The day started off with a Ram Jam providing free food and entertainment for all those who attended. Among the tents of local organizations were military tents supplying food and drinks.

The opening ceremonies consisted of the national anthem and the unfolding the American flag by the ASU ROTC students as the start of the pre-game events.

Once it was time for the game to begin, Col. Ricky Mills, 17th Training Wing commander, who has a local connection to San Angelo, was invited to toss the coin.

“We always have a commander do the coin toss, but it’s really awesome to have a local connection,” said Susan Williams, ASU director of military and veteran’s services. “ASU enjoys a really close relationship with our military members. Having someone from here and for them to be able to do this for us is great.”

During the halftime show, approximately 50 people in the delayed enlistment program took the Oath of Enlistment showing their willingness to start their military career.

“It was nerve wracking enlisting in front of so many people,” said Jeanne Davis, Air Force recruit. “I am really proud to do this, and it makes me feel like I finally made the right decision. I always wanted to enlist, I watched other people follow their dreams and it was time for me to follow mine.”

During the oath of enlistment, 50 volunteers from Goodfellow Air Force Base held U.S. state flags.

“The community supports us so much that I wanted to come out and show our appreciation,” said Airman Avery Safley, 315th Training Squadron student.

Williams shared the appreciation of the community.

“It is important to do these kinds of things because I don’t know that we get a chance often enough to express our appreciation to our military,” said Williams. “We want to thank people for their service, and we can say those in words, but this is something that we can do where we try and pay back our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marine.”