Tonight I and the son went to a Dallas Mavericks game. We took the train and had a good time. I am not a basketball fan, but he is, so it was well worth it, and I enjoyed my one basketball game this year. The game went well (Dallas won over New Orleans) and we had good seats.
The unexpected thing happened at half-time. The USAF Honor Guard Drill Team performed for about 10 minutes to a hushed and very appreciative audience. This team is one which performs a marching and rifle drill at close quarters, and it was terrific. The crowd was enthusiastic, and we’d clap and cheer, then become silent to hear the click and snap of hands on weapons in unison, with the sharp taps of heels on hardwood. When they were done an appreciative audience chanted “USA, USA…” and applauded thunderously. To me, it felt like an audience who couldn’t express their admiration to the troops in Iraq used this opportunity to unload their appreciation on these airmen. It was so good many didn’t leave to get their halftime refreshments until their performance was over. Really.
There was a lot of troop support in the American Airlines Center, and thanks to the USAF Honor Guard for a terrific halftime.
