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Football, food & fun: Local communities & university show their military appreciation

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Luis Loza Gutierrez
  • 319th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
GRAND FORKS, N.D. --  Service members from Grand Forks Air Force Base were out in full force Aug. 30 for this year's Military Appreciation at the Alerus Center here.

The event kicked off the 2013 college football season for the University of North Dakota football team and marked the sixteenth time the annual event has taken place.

Free tickets were given away to the first 1,000 Department of Defense ID cardholders, compliments of UND Athletics. Prior to kickoff, UND also hosted a tailgate party in the Alerus Center's parking lot sponsored by the Military Affairs Committee, the military relations division of the Grand Forks and East Grand Forks, Minn., Chambers of Commerce.

The purpose of the Military Affairs Committee is to foster a strong relationship between the two communities and the military units in the region by providing community support for their current and future missions.

Col. Paul Bauman, 319th Air Base Wing commander, made a few comments before the game. He thanked both the MAC and UND on behalf of all the military members and families of Grand Forks Air Force Base for the tailgate party and the free tickets to the game.

"Before I arrived at the base, I was told there was a very strong tie between the installation and the surrounding community, but I didn't know it was this deep," said Bauman, moments before walking to the center of the football field for the coin toss and being introduced as one of two honorary UND team captains for the game.

"During my time at Grand Forks Air Force Base, I've been amazed and overwhelmed by the tremendous support and display of appreciation from the community," said Bauman, who assumed command of the wing in May. "This is awesome! What more can a wing commander ask for."

Following the tailgate party meal of barbeque pulled pork sandwiches and chips, served by the MAC's fundraising group, the Golden Eagles, military members and their families headed indoors to watch the University of North Dakota crush Valparaiso with a score of 69 to 10, UND highest total since moving to Division I in 2008.

In addition to the football game, attendees at Thursday's military appreciation day festivities also had the option of receiving additional free tickets to UND Women's volleyball game versus Texas A&M University, which took place the following day.