Joint-service color guard represents Guard during national PGA Championship TV coverage

by Master Sgt. Phil Speck
123rd Airlift Wing Public Affairs Office

8/15/2014 - FRANKFORT, Ky.  -- Airmen and Soldiers from the Kentucky National Guard were featured in a national television spot last week, presenting the state colors during CBS Sports' coverage of the Professional Golfers' Association of America Championship at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville Aug. 4-10.

The spot, which was pre-recorded in Frankfort Aug. 5, shows a joint Kentucky Army and Air National Guard team performing the posting of the colors with a Kentucky state flag.

Paul Kramer, a videographer for CBS Sports, said the network wanted to brand the PGA Championship with something that "captured the spirit of Kentucky." They considered using horses but finally decided on highlighting the state flag.

The idea got started when CBS called Gov. Steve Beshear, who in turn called Air Force Maj. Gen. Edward W. Tonini, the adjutant general of Kentucky.

"It was great, and everyone was incredibly helpful," Kramer said. "We got way more than we thought we were going to get. It was really neat to see the guys in full dress, and what makes it more special was the reverence paid to the flag and what it means to those guys."

Air Force Master Sgt. Eric Hamilton, the Non-Commissioned Officer In Charge of the Kentucky Air Guard component of the joint team, said the squad performed the ceremony several times in order for the videographer to get the shots he needed.

"They get a redo, we don't," Hamilton said, smiling. "We have to get it right the first time.

"The team and I enjoyed this event, and we genuinely got a taste of what life would be like in Hollywood," Hamilton added. "It was great to experience what takes place behind the scenes in order to produce an awesome product on television."

The Kentucky Army and Air National Guard Color Guard Teams perform at hundreds of civic functions every year, presenting the state and national colors with honor and respect. The teams also perform hundreds of Honor Guard ceremonies annually, providing funeral honors for the families of fallen veterans.