2011 NFL Draft Honors U. S. Military Personnel
005-draft-005
National Football League Commissioner Roger Goodell poses with cadets from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point Football team during Day 3 of the 2011 NFL Draft on April 30. The team attended the final day of the three-day event as part of an NFL ceremony honoring all branches of the U.S. military. The student athletes were required to maintain a GPA of at least 3.0 in order to attend. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Jeremy Bratt)
The term “Draft” held an entirely different meaning recently to a group of U.S. Military when they were “called up” by the National Football League to attend its 2011 Draft from April 28-30. The highlight of the three-day event at Radio City Music Hall in New York City was during the first round when Commissioner Roger Goodell welcomed members of all branches of the United States Armed Forces (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard, as well as the Wounded Warrior Project) to the stage, where they received a loud and long standing ovation that seemingly raised the roof of the iconic Manhattan venue, as the crowd chanted “USA, USA.” As the military paraded onto the stage, Goodell stepped to the podium and said, “This is a moment that we can all cheer for the same team,” and as the roar grew, the Commissioner added, “Give it to ‘em.”
{default}—Submitted by ACG Correspondent John Ingoldsby, who attended the NFL Draft
