The Aurora University Spartan football program in conjunction with the 57th Expeditionary Signal Battalion, will proudly sponsor “Support the Troops Day” on Saturday, September 5, 2009, when the Spartans open the 2009 season against Lake Forest College at 1:00 p.m. on AU’s Vago Field.
The 57th Expeditionary Signal Battalion stationed at Ft. Hood, Texas, has been deployed to Afghanistan since May of 2009. Rich Johnson, the son of Julie Bach, AU School of Social Work Assistant Professor and Chair of the Gerontology Specialization, is a member of this unit. In addition to his unit, there are more than 20 Signal teams scattered throughout Afghanistan. The battalion’s mission responsibilities are providing communication to the various locations of the United States and Coalition units in Afghanistan.
“You could say our main mission is to keep the lines of communication opento our coalition forces,” said Chaplain (CPT) JD Sims, the 57th ESB’s Chaplain.
The Spartan football team, under the leadership of fifth-year Head Coach Rich Duncan, asks fans who will attend the contest on September 5 to bring items (listed below) or a monetary gift (will be used to purchase items and pay for costs to ship items overseas) in support of our American troops.
1.) Care for Soldiers: At many of the Forward Observation Bases, signal teams do not have access to personal hygiene items. These soldiers (including 50 female soldiers) would be able to use the following items: soap, shampoo, deodorant, lotion, toothpaste, toothbrush and feminine hygiene products.
2.) For the Afghan Children: The coalition forces, alongside Afghan nationals, provide security for and rebuilding of the Afghan economy. One way in rebuilding the Afghan economy is through adequate education. The 57th Expeditionary Signal Battalion has committed to sponsoring an Afghan girl’s school in the Zabul Province. These Afghan girls are in need of children’s clothes, toys and school supplies of the following: children’s clothes (age range 5 to 12 year old), children’s shoes (all sizes), children toys, backpacks (small), loose leaf paper, 3-ring binders , pencils, hand sanitizer and pencil sharpeners
Please join the Aurora University Spartan football program on Saturday, September 5, at 1:00 p.m. on Vago Field as they open the 2009 season and contribute to the support of American troops and the 57th Expeditionary Signal Battalion in their mission for freedom. The public is invited and admission is free.