About 250 area Marines, many of whom are combat veterans, will practice unfurling an American flag the size of a football field at La Jolla High School today before taking Old Glory to the Holiday Bowl at Qualcomm Stadium.
This time-honored tradition will be led by a team of six military personnel who will begin teaching the local Marines to open the flag at about 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 27 at the high school. The Marines were chosen from Miramar, Camp Pendleton and Marine Corps Recruit Depot, said Kevin Smith of the U.S. Marine Corps.
“Of course it’s great to see support for the military men and women,” Smith said.
Smith is part of a team that travels around the country, representing America’s military men and women by participating in a ceremony that includes a large 100-yard by 40-yard flag that when spread out covers an entire football field.
“The crowd gets really excited,” Smith said. “It’s an incredible experience, especially because some people have never seen an American flag that size before.”
The flag adds to a patriotic experience, which includes a military plane flyover and a song such as “America the Beautiful” blasting throughout the stadium, Smith said.
“It’s for the Marines to perform not only for themselves but in front of their hometown, and in front of the military community and dignitary services,” Smith said.
Smith and his team of about six active duty and retired military men and women go from place to place, requesting local military from the community to help with the flag ceremony.
“A majority of them are combat veterans,” Smith said.
Although Smith said he and his team have been to games such as the 1998 Super Bowl, when the Denver Broncos played the Green Bay Packers, it’s the patriotism that matters.
“A caveat of doing this is that it is another way to get recognized by the community, and also for us all to watch a great football game,” Smith said.
For information, visit www.usmc.mil.