~ Submitted by Jennifer Naylor, and photographer Bree Hester
Editor’s Note: Just a month before Veterans Day arrives on November 11, the Bedford Buccaneers and the Greater Lowell Tech Gryphons honored the military connections of athletes, cheerleaders, and marching band members in a touching pre-game ceremony on Sabourin Field.
Both teams honored military family members; read on to learn more about the evening.
All images are (c) Bree Hester, 2021 all rights reserved
Greater Lowell Tech Gryphons
#27 Reilly Emerson honored United States Army Lieutenant Dominik Desisto and United States Coast Guard Fireman Anthony Desisto, both are active duty.
#38 Joe Rhodes and # 69 Ryan Rhodes were accompanied by their father, United States Army Sergeant Bob Rhodes. Sergeant Rhodes served in the 82nd Airborne Division and was stationed in Veneto, Italy.
#53 Alek Rudewicz was accompanied by his father, United States Navy Petty Officer Second Class Pete Rudewicz who worked as an avionics technician. Alex is also honoring his brother, Army National Guardsman Sergeant Michael Rudewicz.
#31 Lorenzo Ruiz was accompanied by his father, United States Army Master Sergeant Carlos Ruiz, an Iraqi War Veteran.
Bedford Buccaneers
#1 Owen Brazee honored his grandfather, Retired United States Army Specialist 5th Class Patrick Lauro
Cheerleader Annaleigh Boblett honored her father, United States Navy Petty Officer First Class Rex Boblett. Petty officer Boblett is on active duty and is currently deployed in Bahrain.
#53 Jamie Buchannan honored his stepfather, Army National Guard Sergeant First Class Mateo Breveleri who is currently deployed to the southwest border. Sergeant Breveleri is in his 21st year of service, which has included 8 deployments including Bosnia, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Cuba; Sergeant Breveleri is a Bronze Star recipient.
#37 Nelson Crawford Jr. was accompanied by his uncle, United States Marine Corps Lance Corporal Brian Keefe. Crawford is also honoring his grandfather United States Army E-4 Specialist Paul McDonough
#19 Sam DeAngelis honored his uncle, United States Marine Rick Jones who served in the JTF-6, a multi-service operation by the United States Department of Defense for counterdrug and anti-terrorist operations as well as Somalia Security
Marching Band member Peter Gillespy was accompanied by his father, United States Navy Captain Andrew Gillespy. Captain Gillespy is on active duty and has completed 4 submarine deployments including a deployment to Afghanistan.
#87 Richie Fedele honored his grandfather, United States Coast Guard Veteran Lou Ennis
#56 Joe Feigel was accompanied by his father, United States Air Force Senior Master Sergeant Joseph Feigel, on active duty.
#45 Trey Healey was accompanied by his father, United States Marine Corps Colonel EJ Healey Jr. A native of Worcester, Colonel Healey is now the Commander of the 25th Marine Regiment at Fort Devens, Massachusetts.
Cheerleader Natalie Marshall honored her father, United States Army Captain Travis Marshall. Captain Marshall has served for 19 years, has earned a Bronze Star, and is currently on active duty
Marching Band Member Alex Mattson was accompanied by his father, United States Navy Petty Officer Second Class Gregory Mattson. Petty Officer Mattson served honorably for 10 years in the Submarine Force aboard the USS Boston, USS Providence, and the USS San Juan
#57 Rick McDowell was accompanied by his mother, US Army Colonel Dorothy Johnson who served tours in both Iraq and Kuwait. Rick is also accompanied by his father, US Navy Captain Mark McDowell who served tours in Kosovo, Iraq, and Afghanistan.
#2 Charlie Naylor & # 22 James Naylor were accompanied by their father, United States Air Force Staff Sergeant Craig Naylor who served tours in Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey during Operation Desert Storm & Operation Provide Comfort
#77 Daniel Petetsky was accompanied by his cousin, United States Marine Corps Corporal Victor Terzikyan. Corporal Terzikyan served two tours in Afghanistan and was awarded the Marine Corps Achievement Medal.
#83 Jaylen Pitts was accompanied by his father, United States Marine Corps Master Sergeant, Jason Pitts. Active Duty
Cheerleader Emma Purtell honored her father, United States Air Force Major Brian Purtell, Retired
Cheerleader Kaylee Slowinski honored her father United States Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Dennis Slowinski. Lieutenant Colonel Slowinski has been deployed multiple times to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Iran where he received multiple medals of valor in combat. He is a current commander and test pilot.
Cheerleader Libby Squire was accompanied by her father, United States Coast Guard Petty Officer First Class James Howell. Petty Officer Howell is an operations specialist who earned a Bronze Buffalo for helping citizens during the blizzards in Buffalo New York in 2014 and is currently on active duty.
#23 Isaiah Triplett & Cheerleader Arianna Triplett were accompanied by their father, United States Army Sergeant First Class Rafael Triplett, Active Duty
Cheerleader, Norah Watson honored her father, United States Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Todd Watson, Active Duty
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