Flag Football Honors Fallen Soldier
By: Aaron Cheslock
Updated: November 10, 2012
Williamsburg, Blair County - On Veterans Day weekend, troops from the Pennsylvania National Guard raise money by taking on local emergency responders in a flag football game.
Chad Edmondson died on May 27th, 2009. The National Guard Specialist was killed by an I.E.D. in Iraq. His sister Jessica Leader says he'd be proud to know a foundation in his name, helps those he considered family.
"More than anything, he was so proud to be in the military, he loved all the guys that he served with, he thought of them as brothers..."
The 3rd Annual Fallen Heroes Football Classic pits local National Guard soldiers against local police, firemen, EMS and correctional officers to raise money for the Specialist Chad Edmondson Foundation. Travis Prough with the Williamsburg Volunteer Fire Department says Chad's family's honoring him the right way.
"Chad Edmunson's family didn't want to make it all about Chad; they wanted to make it about all the heroes in the United States..."
Leader says their money goes to help all military families dealing with tough times.
"What we do with that money is we help active duty military, their family, veterans who are struggling financially for any reason whatsoever, whether it be from deployment or really any reason that they may be struggling financially."
They also bring in local veterans, like Army vet James Richard Martin to watch the game.
"I think it's a very nice program that we're coming here for them to do this football game for us."
Crafts, baked goods and t-shirts were sold on the sidelines. But the real show is on the football field, Sergeant Brian Wertz says being a solider isn't just restricted to the battlefield.
"Just because you're a soldier, doesn't mean you start at training or when you're over in Iraq, you keep on doing what you can do for your community."
Leader says this game makes sure soldiers, officers and firemen, who put their life on the line, know they're not being taken for granted.
"The reason for this football game is really to honor their sacrifice that they make every single day to keep us safe."
Both sides know that he points on the scoreboard don't really matter is the money raised here for the fundraiser in Chad Edmunson's name, to help veterans in need, on Veterans Day weekend.
The National Guard's team won 62-6. If you'd like more information about the Specialist Chad Edmundson Foundation, head to www.spcchadedmundson.org
