Dear Members and Friends,

At 4-0 and ranked in the top five, the Oklahoma State Cowboys, led by head coach Mike Gundy, are one of the nation’s top football programs. This week the program had the vision and respect to honor soldiers of the 31st Air Defense Artillery Brigade out of Fort Sill, Oklahoma, bringing them for a visit to their University and with their team for the entire day. The synergy between the groups of young men, of the same age, similar work structure, and an embedded culture to win on a field of battle, came together and inspiration and sacrifice were shared. These soldiers will be deployed in the Middle East to defend our bases and allies. Forming relationships such as these will help them, as it will also humble and help those at Oklahoma State.

In addition to these soldiers, nearly 5,000 miles West in Honolulu, Hawaii, due respect and recognition were given by the local Hawaiian community, including Congresswoman Mazie Hirono, to our sailors and soldiers stationed in Hawaii that defend our nation with missile defense systems. Sailors from U.S. Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense ships O’Kane (DDG-77), Russell (DDG-59), and Paul Hamilton (DDG-60) were recognized individually, as were soldiers from the 94th Army Air Defense Command located at Fort Shafter, Hawaii.

On behalf of our members, we enjoyed and took great care in paying due respect and helping these relationships to develop and prosper, for recognition of our nation’s missile defense defenders is warranted and they deserve to be noticed in what they do for our nation and world.

Click here for pictures from the 31st ADA’s visit to OSU.

Click here for pictures from MDAA’s Hawaii Reception of Champions.

Aloha and go Cowboys!