Inside the Loud House
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Syracuse Orange: Salute to service edition

By Paul a. Esden Sr.

RAMADI, IRAQ - JANUARY 21: U.S. Army Sergeant Christopher Miller from Syracuse, New York (L) and Specialist John Grieger from Mundeleil, Illinois of the 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment place a poster on a wall that encourages Iraqis to vote in the upcoming elections January 21, 2005 in Ramadi, Iraq. The U.S. military is helping to get the word out for people to turn out and vote as well as trying to stabilize the city so people can vote safely on January 30. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
RAMADI, IRAQ - JANUARY 21: U.S. Army Sergeant Christopher Miller from Syracuse, New York (L) and Specialist John Grieger from Mundeleil, Illinois of the 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment place a poster on a wall that encourages Iraqis to vote in the upcoming elections January 21, 2005 in Ramadi, Iraq. The U.S. military is helping to get the word out for people to turn out and vote as well as trying to stabilize the city so people can vote safely on January 30. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) /
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Time to venture away from the normal Syracuse Orange banter for something more important. Here’s a closer look at the salute to service edition.

I spend most of my time writing articles breaking down Syracuse Orange games and writing articles about our OITNF squad.  But I think it’s time for some positivity in the world.  So, I would like to take a moment and commend Syracuse University for its support of our Armed Forces.

Now as I have stated previously, I spent 20 years in the Navy defending the greatest country in the world so I may be a bit biased.  

One of the reasons that I have adopted the Cuse as one of my favorite college football teams (I normally don’t as I have moved across the country living in South Carolina, Georgia and Virginia; none of these state’s universities got a second glance from me) was starting in 2012 when Doug Marrone took his young men to Fort Drum to live, eat and train with members of the world’s best fighting force the 10th Mountain Division.  

This was a real opportunity to execute one of the university’s main missions to prepare it’s students for life.

The five years that followed not only showed our squad what real toughness looks like, but it also

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helped them build a sense of camaraderie that they wouldn’t get while preparing for the season while living in the dorms at the top of the Hill.

I am disappointed as Dino Babers has decided that he did not want to give up limited practice time by sending his team to Watertown.  But Syracuse stepped up and hosted a skills challenge and autograph session with the group that sacrifices the most, the children and families of our service members.  

And the coup de grace as reported in the Syracuse University news:

"The Syracuse University Athletics Department Military Appreciation Program, presented by SEFCU, will once again offer the Military Pass, which provides veterans and active duty military two complimentary tickets to a home football game each month of the season.More on that story via the press release here: I would encourage everyone to search the couch cushions for a donation as all Orange fans are invited to show their support for veterans and active duty military through the ‘Cuse for the Troops program by sponsoring a military member’s ticket for Military Appreciation Day when Syracuse hosts Wake Forest on Veterans Day (Nov. 11)."

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The first 500 tickets for the ‘Cuse for the Troops program are sponsored by SEFCU. More details on how to donate tickets is available here: www.cuse.com/military (per Syracuse news aggregate)

I appreciate this effort by the Orange Nation, and I would like to say to all the Veterans Thank You for your service and sacrifice that you make to protect us and our freedom.  God Bless.

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