ASU Hosts Military Appreciation Day Published Nov. 13, 2013 By Senior Airman Michael Smith 17th Training Wing Public Affairs SAN ANGELO, Texas -- Goodfellow Air Force Base teamed up with Angelo State University for ASU's annual Military Appreciation Night at the LeGrand Stadium Nov. 9. Hundreds of service members and veterans came to the football game, to watch the ASU Rams face off against Texas A&M- Kingsville, which featured free admission for active duty military members. "It was an amazing game," said Tech. Sgt. Gary Maldonado, 17th Communications Squadron. "The crowd and ASU staff did a great job of showing their appreciation to the military." The football game's opening ceremonies began with volunteers from Team Goodfellow marching onto the field with 50 state flags followed by the National Anthem, sang by Goodfellow's singing group Patriotic Blue, while the base Joint Service Color Guard presented the Colors. "I feel honored to be able to represent the military and pay tribute to the veterans for what they did for us," said Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Abraham Janssen, Marine Corps Detachment student. "Some places you go you don't receive this appreciation, but here you definitely do." Janssen was one of many volunteers to help carry the state flags onto the field, as well as participate in the half time ceremony during which, 50 volunteers from the Army, Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force unfurled a 38 foot flag as a ceremonial showing of military presence. "It was a volunteer activity for us and I am really glad I got to be a part of it," Airman 1st Class Kacee Estep, 315th Training Squadron student, mentioned. "Being able to unfold the huge flag is something I will never forget."
