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Bulldogs soccer players 'honored' to assist veterans; Prep Notebook

Maryland Gazette - 9/8/2018

The Southern girls soccer team took part in the Honor Flight program on Saturday, Aug. 25. Honor Flight is a nationwide program that flies veterans from World War II, Korean and Vietnam Wars for free so they may tour their respective memorials. The veterans arrived in Washington, D.C. around 9 a.m. and were taken via police escort around the city and visited the memorials.

There were large greetings for them once their planes landed in either BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport or Reagan National Airport. This year, the Southern soccer players greeted the veterans as they returned to the airport at the conclusion of their visit to Washington, DC.

The girls made posters, wrote each veteran a personal letter and cheered for them as they got off their bus and entered the airport. The players spent roughly an hour visiting with the veterans and thanking them for their service.

"It was an immensely powerful experience for each girl as they heard firsthand accounts from the wars," Southern coach Brooke Walsh said. "In return, the veterans enjoyed the extra attention and being able to share their experiences with the younger generations."

According to Walsh, service is a very important pillar of the program, as is contributing to the community.

"It is very important to me that the girls view themselves as a part of something bigger than themselves and that they learn to represent their teammates, school and community with integrity and also pride," she said. "This was a tremendous team building event. When you go through something emotional like this, it brings you closer together and bonds you in a way that sports alone cannot. I am so proud of each of the girls for how they carried themselves and also how special they made our veterans feel."

COUNTY SCHOOLS SHOW SUPPORT: The county's public schools that hosted football games last Friday night held a moment of silence prior to the games in remembrance of the five employees killed in the Capital Gazette office on June 28.

Prior to the playing of the national anthem at games at Arundel, Glen Burnie, Meade, Severna Park and Old Mill, the public address announcers read a statement saying the Anne Arundel County Public School System stands in strong support of the Capital Gazette and appreciates the paper's coverage of, not only athletics, but all aspects of the school system.

The school system also specifically mentioned Wendi Winters, noting how she spent many years shining a spotlight on students throughout the county in her Teen-of-the-Week articles. Many of the Teen-of-the-Week students participated in extracurricular activities, such as athletics.

Prior to the playing of the national anthem, a moment of silence was held for 30 seconds.

NORTHEAST FOOTBALL HONORED: The Northeast football team will receive the newly-established George Mills Community Service Award from the Anne Arundel County Sports Hall of Fame at an awards ceremony on Oct. 1. The award, named for the iconic community leader and father of veteran sportscaster and county resident, Keith Mills, is given to a youth or high school sports team to recognize their work in the community.

Credit: Bob Hough

Caption: The Southern girls soccer team participated in the Honor Flight program, which flies veterans to Washington D.C. for free, on Aug. 25.

Capital Gazette