Military Appreciation Day at CHS is huge success

Sgt. Dustin Newton, former Chester student, is now local Illinois National Guard Recruiting Officer

By Jim Beers

CHESTER – Sgt. Dustin Newton of the Illinois National Guard was on hand at Chester High School Saturday October 26 with several of his officers and recruits to help make the Military Appreciation Day activities a huge success. Newton, a former Chester Grade School and High School student, was excited to be back at CHS for the event.

The occasion was the 12:00 noon football game when the 8-0 YellowJackets were hosting the 7-1 Waterloo Bulldogs. It was the final regular-season football game for both teams prior to the 2024 IHSA State Football Playoffs.

For the game, the YellowJackets wore specially made camouflage jerseys provided by the National Guard. Some of the Chester players had to wear jerseys with other than their normal numbers to accommodate the size variations of the players.

Sgt. Newton said, “I am really happy the way out camo jerseys match the black YellowJacket pants and helmets. This will be the last game that the camo jerseys will be used. They are being retired after the Chester vs Waterloo game. We will get new jerseys next season. I really wish I could allow the Chester players to keep the jerseys, but since they are State of Illinois issue, they must be disposed of via State regulations.”

The Illinois National Guard also brought an inflatable tunnel from which the YellowJackets emerged when they took the field. In addition, the Guard brought a Humvee and had a special edition National Guard coin which was used for the coin toss. Sgt. Newton was on the field for the coin toss.

Newton said, “I am very excited to be here for Military Appreciation Day and it is especially an honor to be part of the official coin toss prior to kickoff. The coin we will use is a specially made Illinois National Guard coin that will be presented to one of the Chester players following the game.”

During the coin toss each of the 13 YellowJacket players joined the CHS Captains on the field for the event. Waterloo won the toss and elected to kick off to Chester to begin the game and thusly received the opening kickoff to start the second half.

To open the 2024 football season the Illinois National Guard, under the coordination of Sgt. Newton, created posters of all CHS YellowJacket Football players. They further made posters for the CHS Golf and Cross Country seniors. The Cheerleaders, Dance Team, and Volleyball seniors elected to purchase larger senior posters from commercial suppliers.

During halftime of the game, Sgt. Newton joined Dr. Jim Beers, commentator for the CHS HUDL TV Broadcasts, for the halftime segment of the show. Newton thanked the CHS and District # 139 Administration and football Head Coach Billy Belton for their cooperation in hosing the Military Appreciation Game and allowing the Illinois National Guard to be a part of it.”

The Chester High School Pep Club had American Flags posted all along the fence area surrounding W.O. Smith Field. The large flags were supplied by the Chester Boy Scouts. The flags are the same that decorate the streets of Chester at all patriotic holidays.

In addition, small American Flags lined the pathway leading to W.O. Smith Field on the visitor side and along the stairs of the home side of W.O. Smith Field.

At halftime of the game, fans thoroughly enjoyed a tribute to all veterans and active service men and women as a recording of the “President’s Own Marine Band” performed the theme songs of each of the branches of the United States Military. Those in attendance were asked to stand and be recognized as the song for their branch was played.

During this tribute to the veterans, a video slide show was playing on the large video board located in the north ends zone of W.O. Smith Field. The video was produced by Dwight Lochhead, CHS Technician and Aiden Blechle.

Chester High School offered for purchase, specially made army green T-shirts for the game which highlighted the theme for the game. All students and staff were encouraged to purchase these shirts to honor the veterans and active service men and woman in attendance. Profits from the shirt purchases were donated to the American Legion Post 487 and VFW Post 3552 in Chester.

Most CHS personnel, the entire Chester High School Band, Dance Team, and Cheer Squad supported these shirts at the game.

Following the game, Sgt. Newton said, “The entire event was deemed a huge success! We thank Chester High School and everyone involved for their cooperation and support for helping to make it such a great day. We plan to do other such events during the winter and spring sporting events. We love to be present in our local communities!”

Sgt. Dustin Newton of the Illinois National Guard, formerly of Chester, proudly poses for a photo in front of a Humvee he brought to W.O. Smith Field at Chester High School Saturday October 26. It was Military Appreciation Day a CHS when the YellowJackets hosted the Waterloo Bulldogs. Newton, attended Chester Grade School and Chester High School before moving to Steeleville where he graduated and joined the Illinois National Guard. He is now the local Army Recruiter and brought some of his men, recruits, and equipment to help make the 2024 Military Appreciation Day at CHS one of the best ever. Jim Beers Photo

 

When the 2024 Football YellowJackets (8-0) came onto the fields for the Military Appreciation Game vs Waterloo (7-1), they stormed out of an Illinois National Guard inflatable tunnel carrying a variety of patriotic flags as the Marching YellowJackets played one of the CHS Fight Songs. Jim Beers Photo

Sgt. Dustin Newton of the Illinois National Guard assisted with the “Official Coin Toss” prior to the 2024 CHS Military Appreciation Game Saturday October 26. Newton provided a specially made National Guard coin with which to use for the toss. Following the game, Newton presented one of the Chester players with the coin as a keepsake. Newton can be seen here assisting with the ceremony. Jim Beers Photo

The Illinois National Guard provided Camo Jerseys for the CHS 2024 Military Appreciation game Saturday October 26. The 2A Jackets proudly wore the jerseys as they went into battle with the 4A Waterloo Bulldogs. YellowJacket players can be seen here wearing the jerseys during pre-game warm-ups. Jim Beers Photo

 

 

The Chester Boy Scouts provided their large American Flags to surround the perimeter of W.O. Smith Field for the Military Appreciation Game Saturday October 26. Theses same flags can be seen around Chester each major patriotic holiday day. The flags added came into being as part of the Eagle Scout projects of two former Chester High School students, Kyle Mathis and Jeffery Beers. The flags added quite a bit of class to the event created to honor current and veteran military men and women. Jim Beers

As part of Military Appreciation Day, CHS sold Army Green T-shirts to students, staff and Administration to wear at the Military Appreciation Game. The Chester High School Marching YellowJackets wore the special edition shirts  during their performances at the event. The CHS dance Team and Cheerleaders’ followed suit and also proudly wore the shirts that day. Profits form the sale of the shirts were donated to the Chester American Legion Post 487 and Chester VFW Post 3552. Jim Beers Photo

The Chester High School Pep Club, “THE HIVE” placed small American Flags that lined the walkway to-and-from W.O. Smith Field on the Visitor’s side as well as the stairs on the Home side for Military Appreciation Day Saturday October 26. The flags added much patriotism to the 2024 event hosted by Chester High School and the Illinois National Guard. Jim Beers Photo Jim Beers Photo

 

Members of the Chester YellowJackets and Waterloo Bulldogs football teams meet on the 50-yard line at W.O. Field to congratulate each other following the exciting conclusion of the 2024 Military Appreciation Game Saturday October 26. The Bulldogs managed to walk away from Chester with a slim, 7-point, 35-28 victory, however both teams were winners as they honored current and veteran members of the United States Military throughout their four quarters of battle.  Jim Beers Photo

 

Chester’s Justin Hayman (2), a 5’10”, 160 Lb., Chester YellowJacket Wide Receiver sprints down the east sideline Saturday October 26 when 2A Chester hosted the 4A Waterloo Bulldogs in the annual Military Appreciation Game. Hayman, proudly wearing an Illinois National Guard jersey (No. 2), made it into the Bulldog end zone for the touchdown but it was called back at the 13-yard line due to the fact that the referee said he saw Hayman step out of bounds. Hayman was credited with a 20-yard pass play. Jim Beers Photo