Military Appreciation Night scores big with families

December 8, 2009 The National Guard is celebrating its 373rd birthday, and a handful of Wisconsin National Guard families received a special gift Monday night at Lambeau Field. In honor of Military Appreciation Night, four families of deployed Guard members, selected by the Wisconsin National Guard Joint Force headquarters, were recognized by approximately 80,000 roaring fans in a halftime ceremony during the Green Bay Packers' Monday night football game Dec. 7. The families were chosen in part for their extensive military service.

For example, the family of Lt. Col. David Murray - a member of the Madison-based 115th Fighter Wing currently deployed to Iraq as the flight commander of the Intermediate Care Ward at the Balad Theater Hospital - includes four daughters who themselves have deployed with Wisconsin Air and Army National Guard units and an active Army Military Police unit to such destinations as Kyrgystan, the Middle East, Iraq, Kuwait and Kosovo.

The family of Chief Warrant Officer 2 Debra LeTexier - a member of the 32nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team headquarters currently deployed to Iraq - includes her husband, Master Sgt. David LeTexier, presently stationed at the Wisconsin Air National Guard's Volk Field Combat Readiness Training Center, who himself has deployed to Iraq and New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina. Their daughter, Staff Sgt. Erin Holt, is also stationed at Volk Field and has deployed to Afghanistan twice.

The family of Staff Sgt. Daniel Rockwell - a member of Troop E, 105th Cavalry, currently deployed to Iraq with the 32nd Brigade - includes his father, Master Sgt. Pete Rockwell, a 25- year veteran of the Wisconsin Army National Guard who has deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom; and uncle William Rockwell, a former Wisconsin Army National Guard member.

In addition, Staff Sgt. Rockwell's grandfather, Walter Fred Rockwell (deceased), served in the Wisconsin Army National Guard for more than 35 years and was a World War II veteran. His great-grandfather, Ralph Kins (also deceased), was a World War I veteran.

And the family of 1st Lt. Katie Berberich - currently deployed to Iraq with the 732nd Combat Sustainment Support Battalion headquarters element - includes husband Sgt. 1st Class Kurt Berberich, who spent more than 10 years in the Wisconsin Army National Guard and deployed to Iraq, and is now a full-time Army Reservist at Fort McCoy; father-in-law Harold Berberich, who served for 39 years in the active Army and the Wisconsin Army National Guard and deployed for Operation Desert Storm with the Wisconsin Guard's 229th Engineer Company; brother-in-law Kevin Berberich, who served for seven years in the active Army and the Wisconsin Army National Guard; brother-in-law Kraig Berberich who deployed to Saudi Arabia during his eight years in the Air Force and deployed to Iraq as a civilian employee with the Army Corps of Engineers; and her nephew Devin Berberich is presently learning his military specialty at Fort Sam Houston, Texas.

During the half-time presentation, Airmen and Soldiers of the Wisconsin Army and Air National Guard unfurled 10 star-shaped United States flags. The family members were announced as they walked to center field, and were followed by the senior Wisconsin Guard officials. As the crowd cheered, recorded videos from the deployed family members were played on the stadium's Jumbotron - a pleasant surprise for the gathered family members.

"I don't know if there are any words for my feelings," Master Sgt. LeTexier said after seeing his wife Debra on the big screen. "I was not ready to see my wife on the TV."

The Rockwell family was unanimous in their emotions - the videos brought them to tears. Thirty-six Airmen and Soldiers from across Wisconsin, all assigned to Army and Air National Guard units, assisted in the ceremony. Senior leadership officials from the Wisconsin Army and Air National Guard also attended the game.

Brig. Gen. John McCoy, the deputy adjutant general for Air, said the event was overwhelming. "It's an outstanding feeling to know the state is behind us," McCoy said.

The Military Appreciation Night began earlier in the day with recruiting events set up outside the main entrance to Lambeau Field.

Throughout the game, fan reaction to the men and women in uniform was very high, with individuals stepping forward offering handshakes and words of gratitude.

Following the half-time presentation, the honored military families returned to their private booth in the stadium and watched the second half, where the Packers went on to defeat the Baltimore Ravens 27 to 14.