JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. –
National Football League cheerleaders from the Kansas City Chiefs visited JBA for a military appreciation event Dec. 3, 2016.
During the all-day event, the NFL cheerleaders performed a show for Airmen, signed photographs, toured a KC-135 Stratotanker and demonstrated dance techniques for children of Team Andrews members.
“Having the cheerleaders here gives our Airmen a sense of pride. They get to see that civilians care about what we do on a daily basis and truly believe what we do makes a difference in their lives,” said 2nd Lt. Patrick Noyes, 11th Force Support Squadron section commander.
The activities of the day were made possible by the partnership between the Army and Air Force Exchange Service and Kansas City Chiefs cheerleaders.
"Coming to Joint Base Andrews provides the cheerleaders the opportunity to hear stories about the sacrifices of our country's military families so the girls can share them with the public through the media,” said Dave Hosier, AAFES and Kansas City Chiefs liaison. "The most important aspect of these trips to military bases is to extend our thanks to the men and women in uniform on behalf of the Kansas City Chiefs football organization.”
The group came to JBA as representatives of the Kansas City Chiefs, yet the stories of the base’s Airmen struck a personal chord with some of the girls.
One of the cheerleaders, Krystal, said she grew up in an Army family and has memories of an upbringing that embraced military values.
“My mother and father served in the Army and I was an only child,” Krystal said. “My parents taught me to maintain good morals, a sense of self-reliance and self-respect.”
Another cheerleader, Alison, said her grandfather and uncle are military veterans. She spoke of memories of her grandfather always wearing his Marine hat and saluting fellow veterans.
“My grandfather is a purple heart recipient,” said Alison. “I learned from him and my uncle what it means to be patriotic, and proud of my country, and about the amazing contributions of all branches on the front lines.”
The cheerleaders’ visit to JBA was just one of the football organization’s numerous outreach efforts to members of the military. In addition to visiting bases in the U.S., the cheerleaders also meet military members stationed abroad, in locations such as Germany, Kuwait and Iraq.
“We see ourselves as ambassadors of the Kansas City Chiefs football organization,” said Alison. “We consider it a huge honor to give back to our servicemembers by hearing their stories to pass on to other civilians.”