Omaha Lancers honor military

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. James M. Hodgman
  • 55th Wing Public Affairs
OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. --  Thousands of fans fill the arena clapping, smiling and cheering. They are all here to watch a hockey game, but more importantly, to honor America's military members and their families. The night is all about them.

The Omaha Lancers, a Tier One junior ice hockey team in the West division of the U.S. Hockey League, honored all servicemembers and their families Nov. 13 during their annual Military Appreciation Night at the Omaha Civic Auditorium in Omaha, Neb.

As part of military appreciation night, the Lancers organization invited the family of a senior master sergeant who is deployed to Afghanistan to drop the ceremonial first puck. The Lancers also made the moment extra special when they arranged for the senior master sergeant to call his wife right before the puck left her hand.

When Ramona C. Price, the wife of Senior Master Sgt. Bruce L. Price, with the 55th Strategic Communications Squadron, was asked to drop the ceremonial first puck at military appreciation night, she was thrilled as she is a big Lancer fan, she said. However, she had no idea what would happen next.

More than 3,600 fans cheered as Mrs. Price walked to center ice with her son, Josh, daughter Lily, daughter-in-law, Jessica and granddaughter, Zoei for the ceremonial puck drop.

Right before Mrs. Price could drop the puck, she was asked to wait a minute by the announcer, as a special guest was about to join them. A second later, a picture of her husband was displayed on the screen and Mrs. Price was told she had a phone call, all the way from Afghanistan.

"I love you honey, we miss you," Mrs. Price said to her husband.

Sergeant Price told his wife he loved and missed her very much. After a short conversation, he told her to "drop the puck" and military appreciation night was under way.

Seeing her husband and sharing a few moments with him before the game was very special, Mrs. Price said. "I have not seen him in five months, so seeing him in uniform up on the screen was like Christmas and my birthday all rolled into one."

The last time she saw her husband was on June 1, Mrs. Price said, when he left for his deployment to Afghanistan. Since that time, she said he has missed so much. Their oldest son Erik left for U.S. Army basic training on Oct. 20 and their granddaughter Zoei was born three months ago.

Having the opportunity to talk to and see her husband meant a great deal to her, she said. "It was absolutely amazing."

Ben Robert, Lancer's president and managing partner, said his organization sponsors a military appreciation night annually because it's important to honor servicemembers and everything they do.

"We are so appreciative of the military," Mr. Robert said. "We're fortunate to live in this country and the United States is the best country in the world, and it's because of the military I can sleep at night."

With the night's festivities, Mr. Robert said he wanted to give every servicemember a chance to put their worries aside and have some fun for a few hours.

"At the end of the day, they risk their lives for us and we need to give back to them," Mr. Robert said.

The Lancers Military Appreciation Night also featured the presentation of the colors by Offutt's Honor Guard and the National Anthem, sung by Judy L. Frison, a dental assistant with the 55th Dental Squadron.

Mrs. Frison is no stranger to singing at big events, as she has sung at the start of the Omaha Royals opening day at Rosenblatt Stadium and a National Association for Auto Stock Car Racing event at Phoenix International Raceway. However, Mrs. Frison said, singing the national anthem on military appreciation night was truly special.

"Singing the national anthem is very special to me and it's always an honor to sing the song," she said, "it also means a lot to me to do this for the military."

At the end of the first period, several members of the 55th Force Support Squadron were presented with an autographed Lancers jersey for being the Offutt unit that purchased the most tickets for the event.

Lt. Col. Denise Cooper, 55th FSS commander, said nearly 40 members of the squadron were at the game and she was incredibly thankful for the support the Lancers showed for the military.

"It was great to be on the ice and see the genuine respect for the military from the Lancers organization and their fans," Colonel Cooper said.

Colonel Cooper also said she was appreciative that the Lancers offered such an event for military families and encouraged other organizations to follow their lead.

"This is the Year of the Air Force Family and it is great for any (organization) to offer a family night at a reduced price," she said. "Family time is precious time especially for military families."

After the game, three members of the Lancers, who defeated the Sioux City Musketeers 3 - 2 for their 13th win of the season, posed for pictures with several military members and their families.

Taking some time to honor America's military members is very important, said Dakota M. Eveland, Lancers center.

"We get to play hockey because they are fighting for our freedom," Mr. Eveland said, "so it's nice that we can put on a show for them."

For more information about the Omaha Lancers, visit www.lancers.com.