Written By: By Steve Macy, NMSU Associate Athletic Director

In the marketing of a major sports program, my job is to sell tickets and raise revenues. It is that simple. How I do it is what gets most of the attention, but the job really is simple to explain. The game this Saturday though, is very different. I get to promote something that is close and true to my heart. I get to promote something that I believe in from a personal standpoint. The fact that it is also part of my job makes it all the more fulfilling.

The football game against Hawaii on Saturday at 2PM will be very special to the entire region as we pay tribute to the brave men and women that serve and have served our country.  Highlighting the halftime festivities will be a Community Covenant signing between the regional military installations, the City of Las Cruces, and New Mexico State University.  This historic event will take place during halftime and will signify a dedicated covenant to work together as one community.

I have been fortunate enough to have gotten to know a few of the military leaders at Holloman Air Force Base, White Sands and here on campus with the ROTC units. It is an amazing experience to spend time with people that are dedicated to our security. The debt I feel to these people is at times, overwhelming. The fact that I also enjoy spending time with them as human beings and friends makes it all the more humbling. That gives the community covenant signing additional meaning to me personally.

Besides this historic covenant, we will recognize three members of the Native American Code Talkers, who were instrumental in creating a communication system during World War II.  Not only extremely smart and brave men, but without their efforts, a victory in WWII may not have been achievable. They made our communications secure at a time when most of our communications were intercepted and deciphered. These men played a very key role and a great debt is owed to them. Honoring them on Saturday is an honor and a privilege.

We also welcome Honor Flight, an organization dedicated to sending WWII veterans to see the WWII memorial in Washington DC.  Many of these local WWII veterans will be in attendance. Being able to recognize these men and women and help raise money to send them to see this important memorial will be another humbling experience on Saturday.

Finally, Holloman Air Force Base is sponsoring a very special fly-over at the end of the national anthem.  For the first time ever, the new stealth fighter, the Raptor, will fly over a stadium.  I am so pumped to say that the first fly-over will be at Aggie Memorial Stadium.

I am certain that I will be unable to make it through the game with dry eyes. The pride and gratitude I have for these women and men in service can sometimes pull at emotions I largely ignore. The enormity of their actions and the sincerity of their humility are hard for me to fathom. For me, many of these women and men exemplify the attitudes and values that I hold dear.

Please. I ask you to join me in spending one afternoon cheering those that dedicate their lives for us.