927th Air Refueling Wing Airmen perform opening ceremony at St. Petersburg BitCoin Bowl

  • Published
  • By SSgt Adam C. Borgman
  • 927th Air Refueling Wing/Public Affairs
MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla --  927th Air Refueling Wing Airmen alongside 10 other military affiliated organizations attended the 2014 BitCoin Bowl to display football field size flag, December 26, 2014.

More than 150 uniforms surrounded the perimeter of the sacred emblem of the United States, it's flag. Working together, these Airmen, Coast Guardsmen, Soldiers next to their junior counter parts of the Civil Air Patrol, ROTC, Naval Sea Cadets showed their patriotism as one team during the National Anthem as it was performed at the start of the game.

"This is the first time our members have been able to participate in an event like this," said Maj. Steve Lampasona, Civil Air Patrol Group 3, Commander. "It gives us great exposure to work with the active military and other organizations, as well as an excellent opportunity for our cadets to work alongside ROTC and JROTC units."

Weighing one-ton, it took hard work lifting and expanding the 100 -yard flag across the field.

Not only was the teamwork shared between multiple units, but some reservists had the opportunity to participate next to their own children, enhancing the experience for them all.

Tech. Sgt. Andrea Ervin, 927 ARW Developmental Training Flight NCOIC, has two children in JROTC who participated in the event with her.

"I am honored to have been able to serve and interact with them in uniform, we were able to complete this mission together," said Ervin. "The look on their faces when they found out how big and how much the flag weighed was priceless!"

After the flag ceremony four members of the United States Special Operations Command repelled from the rafters of Tropicana Field to the 50-yard line just in time for the coin toss.

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