ALOHA STADIUM, Hawaii – Military members volunteered their time to support the 2016 NFL Pro Bowl here Jan. 31. A joint honor guard detail rendered honors as the American flag was displayed across the field, followed by the U.S. Air Force conducting a C-17 Globemaster flyover.
Aside from the military’s involvement in the pregame performance, hundreds of military volunteers also worked together behind the scenes to move the pregame show logistics on and off the field in support of Rachel Platten’s performance of her song “Fight Song.”
U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Xenia Dillon, 15th Aerospace Medical Squadron, explained her role as a Pro Bowl volunteer.
“There were 13 or 15 different moving pieces and over 200 volunteers with the military,” Dillon said. “We did the pregame first show for the singer that came out to do it, Rachel Platten, we set up her stage and crew. All the big pieces that were coming through the tunnel that were all lined up, we all had to push them out coordinating together.”
Dillon said that the volunteers spent extra time practicing the quick stage set up to be better prepared for game day.
“We did a bunch of practices late at night,” Dillon said. “The military all just pulled together. It was really easy honestly because everyone said ‘OK so, one, two, three, go’ and it was just seamless.”
Team Irvin defeated Team Rice 49-27 and once the game was over NFL players took the time to thank the military for their service.
“Thank you so much for everything you all do,” said Derek Carr of the Oakland Raiders. “You are all the true heroes. Everyone watches football and looks up to us but you guys are the true heroes and we know it so thank you so much and God bless.”
Michael Irvin, former NFL football player for the Dallas Cowboys and former ESPN broadcaster, made a shout out that echoed Carr’s statement of what a hero is.
“I am Michael ‘The Playmaker’ Irvin, three-time Super Bowl champion with the Dallas Cowboys and I am an NFL Hall of Famer but I tell you this… there are no greater Hall of Famers than the troops,” said Michael Irvin. “We appreciate all you do that allows us to live the life and do the things that we do. We get to play a game and have fun because you play the real game and keep us safe.