Army Airborne To Deliver Northview Game Ball From Blackhawk Helicopters

September 10, 2009

silverwings101.jpgThe game ball for one of this year’s Northview High School football games will be delivered by Army Airborne from Blackhawk helicopters.

The United States Army’s parachute demonstration team the Silver Wings from Ft. Benning, Georgia, will deliver the game ball to Northview’s Senior Night on October 30.

SFC Bobby Ewing, an Army recruiter in Pensacola, said that two to four members of the Silver Wings are scheduled to jump from two Blackhawk helicopters at least 5,000 feet over the Northview stadium. They will bring down a United States flag, a POW/MIA flag, an Army flag and the official game ball. One jumper will land on the 50-yard line to deliver the game ball for the game against Sneads.

silverwings11.jpg“It will be exciting, and a great way to begin Senior Night,” Northview Principal Gayle Weaver said.

The helicopters will not land at Northview — they will fly in and fly out, Ewing said. The Blackhawk helicopters will either fly directly from a location such as Pensacola NAS, the Pensacola Airport or Ft. Benning, he said. A ground crew will drive the Silver Wings jumpers back to Ft. Benning.

“Their mission will to be to deliver the game ball, get their gear and move out of the way for the game and Senior Night,” he said.

The Silver Wings’ mission is to perform live aerial demonstrations in support of the United States Army, and Ft. Benning public relations and recruiting.

The Silver Wings is comprised of Soldiers from throughout the Fort Benning airborne community. They have diverse backgrounds and various military specialties. The average age is 33 years old and the average number of free fall jumps range between 200-2500 per team member. The team represents the professionalism and dedication of the specially trained Soldiers that are products of the United States Army Infantry Center and Schools, to include Airborne, Pathfinders, and the Army elite Rangers.

Photos courtesy U.S. Army for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Comments

16 Responses to “Army Airborne To Deliver Northview Game Ball From Blackhawk Helicopters”

  1. Bobby Ewing on September 15th, 2009 10:34 pm

    To Bogia Dad. I really like your American flag idea. I have about 300 right now. I’m working on obtaining about 1000+ to hand out at the game.
    Once again, thank you to all of northescambia.com and surrounding areas for your support.

    SFC Ewing

  2. hartgina on September 14th, 2009 8:31 pm

    great job that is awesome!!! bobby im proud of you. go chiefs!

  3. Ramona Bell on September 12th, 2009 2:17 pm

    A lot of great things are happening at Northview!!!! GO CHIEFS!!!!!!!!

  4. Atmore reader on September 12th, 2009 12:26 pm

    Wow!! this is so amazing, I am the wife of a retired Amry 1st Sgt. I have seen this group of men and they are awsome. You will certainly be filled with pride as you watch them come in. GO ARMY!!!!!

  5. PVT Russell Stewart's Mom on September 11th, 2009 8:22 pm

    9/11became the motivation for my son to join the military. He was attending the university of southern mississippi and wittnessed a group of musilim students celebrating in the college’s library. Bobby, my son graduated with you from northview in 1997. After graduating, he worked for a couple of years before joining the Marine Corps. He graduated from basic on February 23. He died due to illness during combat training. I was hoping to get a chance to speak to you at the 2008 Nortgview senior night. I haven’t bemn to a football game since my sons graduated. I am really looking forward to coming back. What you have helped plan is wonderful. What a tribute to our men and women in the military and what a testimony you are to your home town, high school and career. Keep up the good work and God Bless

  6. Scobie Wilcoxon on September 11th, 2009 12:19 pm

    What an exciting thing! Hopefully, the word will get out so that many people will get to see these special soldiers demonstrate their skills.

    As the father of a Northview grad soldier, now serving in Iraq, and the uncle of a Northview grad soldier, who has been to Afghanistan and is scheduled to go to Iraq (and has completed the jump school at Benning), I am always excited to events like this come to the local venue. Events such as this are usually reserved for more larger cities and events.

    Thanks for selecting our humble community.

  7. Sara P. (now Sara H;-) on September 11th, 2009 7:02 am

    Bobby, I’m so proud of you for setting this up! It will be a night to remember. Co 1997 rocks!

  8. MLA on September 10th, 2009 7:32 pm

    This is Awesome!! (:

  9. Bobby Ewing on September 10th, 2009 5:44 pm

    Hello NorthEscambia.com. I would like to say you all are more than welcome and thank you for your support to the Armed Forces. I would like everyone to know that my plans were not to take anything away from honoring the Seniors on their special night. This was just a way to give back to the school that has given me so much. The school, faculty and staff have done so much for me these past 2.5 years as their Army Recruiter and since I graduated in 1997. Some of my classmates were: Cork Hanks, Josh Long, Demetric Washington, Tymande Burton (US Army), Reggie Ellis, Kelly Gurganus(Day), Jenny Gilmore, Kinzie Lucas, Sara Perkins, and the list goes on. I know the crowd will enjoy the show and be fired up for a great game. Once again, thank you all and GO CHIEFS!!!!

  10. Sherry (S.L.B) on September 10th, 2009 11:14 am

    Pretty cool…..aren’t we special?

    I agree with Bogia Dad about showing our American and School spirit/pride with mini-flags to wave. I vote to put him in charge of the spirit team! (smile)

    Thank you for remembering your Northview roots SFC Bobby Ewing and treating the NHS students and area residents to an amazing upcoming show. I cannot wait to see it and good luck!

  11. robert on September 10th, 2009 10:22 am

    To ewalum i think your right if i am not mistaken he graduated with me in 1997 from Northview. Great job Bobby proud to be an american right along with you.

  12. ewalum on September 10th, 2009 9:17 am

    what a great addition to the game! thanks to Bobby Ewing for getting this together…i think he’s a former northview student?

  13. brittany reid on September 10th, 2009 9:11 am

    this is so cool. my brothers a senior on the football team and my husband in the army at fort benning right now for bootcamp. he graduates october 2nd so he will be back for this amazing event. this is so neat :) hoooraayyyy!

  14. Bogia Dad on September 10th, 2009 7:42 am

    This is beyond unbelievable. My son is a senior and interested in the Army. This will make for the best senior night ever. I do hope the band can learn the national anthem, God Bless America or something to play.

    Everybody should bring an American Flag to waive. Let’s organize this.

  15. Molino Mom on September 10th, 2009 7:14 am

    Wow. Amazing. This will be so cool

  16. Just Me on September 10th, 2009 7:06 am

    That is awesome!!!!