The Lambeau Salute

The Lambeau Salute

It’s no secret that I’m a huge Green Bay Packers fan; they’re my team. Really they are, I own stock in The Pack so I can say that! I’ll never forget the first Packers game I went to. It was Christmas and when it was my turn to open presents I had to open them in a specific order.

I was thrilled to open a bunch of Packers gear. A sweatshirt, a purse, some fuzzy socks…and then the smallest package. When I opened it I was completely speechless. Two tickets to the next game! Oh my goodness. I don’t know if I’ve ever smiled quite that big. I couldn’t believe that my dad was finally going to take me to a game after all these years!

Of course the game was fantastic. That was the start of a couple of wonderful years where my dad and I went to games together. The photograph above was taken at the November 14, 2011 Packers-Vikings game at Lambeau Field. Let me tell you, there’s nothing like a game at Lambeau. The energy is incredible, especially when we play the Vikings, one of our biggest rivals.

My dad was lucky enough to be invited by business colleagues to watch the game in their corporate booth. I was lucky enough to be his plus one! That was probably the only time I will ever be in one of the fancy boxes and it was a memorable experience with a fantastic view.

Dad and I really enjoy the festivities right before the game starts. The National Anthem always gives me chills and then the fighter jets fly over the stadium and you can’t help but feel incredibly patriotic.

This particular night Lambeau Field had all of that, plus a Salute to Veterans. Part of this was a card stunt. A card stunt is when there is a card placed at each seat in the open stadium and at just the right time every person holds up their card to make a design. What I love about card stunts is that everyone has to work together and do their part to make something special.

So here we are, already feeling patriotic, when military personnel come out holding flags. As the National Anthem begins, everyone holds their card high, revealing the American flag and a thank you to our Veterans. As the Anthem ends, fighter jets fly overhead and the crowd roars our approval. Goosebumps!

It was an incredible start to an amazing night. The Packers went on to trounce the Vikings 45-7. I met Governor Walker during halftime when he visited our box. I ate delicious food, and I cheered much too loudly for that little box!

Today, as we once again remember and celebrate our Veterans, I want to say thank you to the men and women who preserve our freedom. To the men and women who suffer and sacrifice so much so that we can be free, my words will never be enough. But from the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU!

And that, my friends, is the story of how I captured The Lambeau Salute. (Click to Tweet!)

Until next time,

Josie