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(From left) Cadet Senior Airmen Marc Nicholas Bacogiannis and Marc Novaes, Cadet Senior Master Sgt. Cameron Leahy and Cadet Tech. Sgt. Antonio Isais prepare to march onto the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Field.
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The cadets make their way to center field.
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(From left) Cadet Tech. Sgt. Antonio Isais, Cadet Senior Master Sgt. Cameron Leahy and Cadet Senior Airmen Marc Novaes and Nicholas Bacogiannis and Marc Novaes present the colors.
Photos by Capt. Ken Sturgill, California Wing
Senior Member Tim Gooler
East Bay Cadet Squadron 18
Californai Wing
CALIFORNIA – Cadets from East Bay Cadet Squadron 18 color guard were on the field to present the colors Thursday before the deciding game of the American League Division Series between the Oakland A's and the Detroit Tigers at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.
Under the eyes of a sellout crowd of more than 35,000 fans in the stands and a television audience in the millions, Cadet Senior Master Sgt. Cameron Leahy, Cadet Tech. Sgt. Antonio Isais and Cadet Senior Airmen Nicholas Bacogiannis and Marc Novaes marched to center field and presented the colors during the national anthem.
Unfortunately for the A’s and their fans, Detroit prevailed by a 6-0 score to advance to the League Championship Series.
“Presentations such as this are a perfect example of the color guard’s commitment to volunteer service, one of Civil Air Patrol’s core values,” said Leahy, commander of the color guard team. “Emotions such as fear, excitement and nervousness are only a few ways to describe the thoughts racing through our heads … as the color guard and I walked onto center field.”
The performance marked the second time the color guard marched across Oakland's home field during the 2012 season. The color guard also posted the colors July 3 before the A's took on the Boston Red Sox.
“Being on the other end of the yelling crowd is definitely an adrenaline rush,” Isais said. “It was humbling to realize the opportunity being set in front of me.
“So many of my peers won't ever have that opportunity to be privileged in such a way; it truly makes me proud to be a cadet in such an amazing organization.”
