MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT SAN DIEGO, Calif. -- The Depot's Headquarters and Service Battalion color guard joined color guards from the Navy and Coast Guard Aug. 29 at Qualcomm Stadium to kick off the festivities at the San Diego Chargers 15th annual "Salute to the Military."
The Chargers joined forces with military installations from all over southern California, pulling out all the stops for the Chargers' preseason finale against the San Francisco 49ers and hosting an extravagant celebration and tribute to the military.
On Qualcomm's plaza concourse, there were interactive static displays from every branch of the military. One of the more popular Marine displays was a Humvee equipped with a Tube-launched Optically-tracked Wire-guided missile launcher.
The real military showcases began shortly before kick-off. Marines, sailors and Coast Guardsmen from local area installations took positions at midfield to be recognized for recent awards.
Sailors from the Anti-Submarine Warfare Training Center lined the sideline and end zone, each of them carrying one of the 50 state flags. The Navy, Coast Guard and Depot's color guards then took position on the field for the presentation of the colors and the playing of the National Anthem.
The Navy Seal Leap Frogs team skydived into the stadium during the pregame festivities, followed by a flyover of FA-18 Hornets from Naval Air Station, Lemoore, Calif., and Coast Guard helicopters.
Navy Lt. j.g. Adam Ellis, of the USS John C. Stennis, performed the national anthem.
At halftime, Chargers welcomed home service members returning from Operation Iraqi Freedom, followed by the Marine Corps presenting their huge football field length flag. The salute concluded with a fireworks display above Qualcomm Stadium.
"It was a real honor to represent the Marine Corps in front of all those people," said Lance Cpl. Yuri Schneider, H and S Bn. color guard. "It was an awesome feeling to be down on the field while everyone in the stands chanted 'USA' over and over. It made me even more proud to be a Marine."