Wagonmasters Join UMBC in Game-Day Tradition

By Spc. Calab FranklinMarch 2, 2020

Wagonmasters Join UMBC for Game-Day Tradition
1 / 9 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Wagonmaster Troopers reenlist during the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor's annual military appreciation football game halftime at Crusader Stadium, Belton, Texas, Nov. 9, 2019. 1st Cav. Div. Sust. Bde. Commander, Col. Patrick A. Disney issued the oath of enlistment during the ceremony; twenty-two 1st Cavalry Division Sustainment Brigade Soldiers took part in the ceremony. (Photo Credit: Sgt. Calab Franklin) VIEW ORIGINAL
Wagonmasters Join UMBC for Game-Day Tradition
2 / 9 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Wagonmaster Troopers reenlist during the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor's annual military appreciation football game halftime at Crusader Stadium, Belton, Texas, Nov. 9, 2019. Twenty-two 1st Cavalry Division Sustainment Brigade Soldiers took part in the ceremony. (Photo Credit: Sgt. Calab Franklin) VIEW ORIGINAL
Wagonmasters Help Continue UMBC Tradition
3 / 9 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Wagonmaster Troopers reenlist during the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor's annual military appreciation football game halftime at Crusader Stadium, Belton, Texas, Nov. 9, 2019. Twenty-two 1st Cavalry Division Sustainment Brigade Soldiers took part in the ceremony. (Photo Credit: Sgt. Calab Franklin) VIEW ORIGINAL
Wagonmasters Join UMBC for Game-Day Tradition
4 / 9 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Col. Patrick A. Disney, commander, 1st Cavalry Division Sustainment Brigade, 'Wagonmasters,' makes the coin toss at the start of the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor's annual military appreciation game, Crusader Stadium, Belton, Texas, Nov. 9, 2019. Disney tossed the 1st CAv. Div. Sust. Bde. command coin, shaped like a covered wagon, to determine the game starting team. (Photo Credit: Sgt. Calab Franklin) VIEW ORIGINAL
Wagonmasters Join UMBC for Game-Day Tradition
5 / 9 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Col. Patrick A. Disney, commander, 1st Cavalry Division Sustainment Brigade, 'Wagonmasters,' makes the coin toss at the start of the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor's annual military appreciation game, Crusader Stadium, Belton, Texas, Nov. 9, 2019. Disney tossed the 1st CAv. Div. Sust. Bde. command coin, shaped like a covered wagon, to determine the game starting team. (Photo Credit: Sgt. Calab Franklin) VIEW ORIGINAL
Wagonmasters Join UMBC for Game-Day Tradition
6 / 9 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Pfc. Zachary Johnson, 1st Cavalry Division Sustainment Brigade, takes a moment to prepare on the sideline before singing the National Anthem at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor military appreciation game, Crusader Stadium, Belton, Texas, Nov. 9, 2019. (Photo Credit: Sgt. Calab Franklin) VIEW ORIGINAL
Wagonmasters Join UMBC for Game-Day Tradition
7 / 9 Show Caption + Hide Caption – PFC Zachary Johnson, 1st Cavalry Division Sustainment Brigade, 'Wagonmasters,' performs the National Anthem at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor military appreciation game, Crusader Stadium, Belton, Texas, Nov. 9, 2019. (Photo Credit: Sgt. Calab Franklin) VIEW ORIGINAL
Wagonmasters Join UMBC for Game-Day Tradition
8 / 9 Show Caption + Hide Caption – PFC Zachary Johnson, 1st Cavalry Division Sustainment Brigade, "Wagonmasters," performs the National Anthem at the annual University of Mary Hardin-Baylor military appreciation game, Crusader Stadium, Belton, Texas, Nov. 9, 2019. (Photo Credit: Sgt. Calab Franklin) VIEW ORIGINAL
Wagonmasters Join UMBC for Game-Day Tradition
9 / 9 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Col. Patrick A. Disney, commander, 1st Cavalry Division Sustainment Brigade "Wagonmasters," gives a pep-talk to University of Mary Hardin-Baylor football players before the annual military appreciation game at Crusader Stadium, Belton, Texas, Nov. 9, 2019. Disney brings 23 Wagonmaster Troopers with him for the event; 22 will participate in a reenlistment ceremony during the halftime show. (Photo Credit: Sgt. Calab Franklin) VIEW ORIGINAL

BELTON, TEXAS - 1st Cavalry Division Sustainment Brigade shows up in numbers to the 2019 Annual Military Appreciation Football Game, reenlisting 22 Wagonmasters during halftime at Crusader Stadium, Belton, Texas, Nov. 9, 2019.

Every year in the month of November, the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (UMHB) hosts a military appreciation game to honor those who serve. This years game begins with a performance of the national anthem by a Wagonmaster Soldier and a coin toss by Col. Patrick A. Disney, Commander, 1st Cav. Div. Sust. Bde..

"Thank you so much for opening this stadium to our troopers and our team," said Disney. "The partnership we have with the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor is pretty phenomenal."

As Johnson takes the field the crown begins to shift focus to the 15-yard line. Johnson's voice brings silence to the stadium as every american in the stands honors our nation's colors, some with their hands to their hearts and others rendering salutes. Once the performance was over the air laid still for several seconds before a roar of applause thundered across the Belton community.

"This is an honor," said Johnson. "The fact that I am able to express my passion while still serving this country makes me extremely grateful."

Leaving the audience in awe, Johnson "set the stage" for the rest of the Wagonmaster team to take their oath. It is Army tradition to conduct reenlistment ceremonies in the most unique places, these Wagonmasters decide to take their oath of selfless and honorable service on the field.

"You are making a recommitment to our nation and to the Army," said Disney. "With professionals like you who are professional, credible, reliable and disciplined in everything that you do, there is nothing we can't accomplish."

Alongside the 22 Wagonmaster troopers is 10 new enlistees from the surrounding areas who would also make that same commitment. Command Sgt. Maj. Janet Thomas, 1st Cavalry Division Sustainment Brigade thanks the future Soldiers.

"It is a great start for you all as adults to come into the military, we appreciate what you do," said Thomas.

The moment the Wagonmasters take the turf, one by one people stand up in recognition of the Soldiers.