Wounded Warrior Marines SuperBowl Bound

Major Brian Bilski presents a football autographed by wounded, ill and injured Marines to Scott Miller, of Republic Services, at a welcome dinner here at the Irving Convention Center tonight. The signed football is a token of their appreciation for the support he will provide to the Marines during the time leading up to their attendance at Super Bowl XLV. The 40 Marines and Marine veterans, supported by the United States Marine Corps Wounded Warrior Regiment, are from military treatment facilities and communities across the nation.

2/4/2011 By Capt. Jill Leyden , Wounded Warrior Regiment IRVING, Tx. — Marines and Marine veterans, supported by the United States Marine Corps Wounded Warrior Regiment, gathered here to attend a welcome dinner at the Irving Convention Center, marking the start of events leading up to their attendance at Super Bowl XLV. The 40 Marines and Marine veterans are from military treatment facilities, military bases and communities across the nation. They were hand selected by Wounded Warrior Regiment staff to attend Super Bowl XLV and participate in various activities throughout the week. The Mayor of Irving asked the city’s citizens to join him in honoring wounded warriors as he proclaimed today United States Marine Corps Wounded Warrior Regiment Day. Mayor Herbert A. Gears presented each of the 40 wounded, ill and injured Marines with a Texas state flag that was flown over the Capital in honor of the day.

As he addressed the audience, filled with veterans and military supporters, Mayor Gears said during his tenure as mayor he has never missed a city council meeting- until tonight. He commented that nothing would be more worthwhile than attending the dinner. Gears, who noted his grandfather was a two-time prisoner of war, said “I stand before you as a humble servant and it is an honor to be here.”

During the week, the Marines will experience various activities, such as a visit to Rough Creek Ranch, the NFL Experience and a tour of Cowboys Stadium. Since 2006, the Cleveland Browns have donated 40 tickets to the Wounded Warrior Regiment so that wounded, ill and injured Marines can attend the Super Bowl.

The Wounded Warrior Regiment provides and facilitates non-medical care to combat and non-combat wounded, ill, and injured Marines, and sailors attached to or in direct support of Marine units, and their family members in order to assist them as they return to duty or transition to civilian life. The WWR assists active, reserve and veteran Marines. The Regimental Headquarters element, located in Quantico, VA, commands the operations of two Wounded Warrior Battalions located at Camp Pendleton, California and Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, and multiple detachments in locations around the globe.

Air Force F-15 Eagles patrol Super Bowl XLV

F-15 Eagles patrol areas around critical infrastructure and during special events. Fighter aircraft such as this one conducted air patrols around Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla., in support of Super Bowl XLIII. (U.S. Air Force photo/Chief Master Sgt. Gary Emery)

by Capt. Jared Scott 601st Air Operations Center Public Affairs 2/3/2011 - TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (AFNS) -- Continental U.S. North American Aerospace Defense Command Region fighters will be busy well before Super Bowl Sunday preparing to protect the sky around Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Exercise Amalgam Virgo 11-05A, a NORAD air defense exercise, was held Feb. 2 in the greater Arlington area to allow interagency partners the chance to practice airspace violation procedures.

The Amalgam Virgo exercise comprises a series of training flights held in coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration, Customs and Border Protection, Civil Air Patrol, and CONR's Western Air Defense Sector.

"Interagency coordination is a key aspect of our daily air defense measures," said Maj. Gen. Garry Dean, the CONR commander. "This Amalgam Virgo exercise is an excellent opportunity for all of our interagency air defenders to hone our air defense skills in preparation for Super Bowl Sunday."

These exercises are carefully planned and closely controlled to ensure CONR's rapid response capability. CONR officials have conducted exercise flights of this nature throughout the U.S. since the start of Operation Noble Eagle, the command's response to the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.

"When it comes to defending America's skies, the Continental U.S. NORAD Region and America's Air Operation Center are always ready," General Dean said.

Since Sept. 11, 2001, CONR fighters have responded to more than 3,400 possible air threats in the U.S. and have flown more than 58,200 sorties with the support of Airborne-Warning and Control-System and air-to-air-refueling aircraft.