BOONE — Friday’s District 2 battle between visiting Perry and Boone had a special atmosphere surrounding it, as the hosts dubbed the event “Armed Forces Night” and saluted those who had fought, or risked fighting, real battles on behalf of the nation.
As many as 100 veterans of various ages from both Perry and Boone were honored before the game and were given the opportunity to watch the contest from special seating on the north end of the field. Flying just behind the vets was a large American flag, suspended from a ladder truck provided by the Boone Fire Department.
Iowa National Guard Adjutant Maj. Gen. Tim Orr was on hand to present each team’s honorary captain with a commemorative game ball and to participate in a ceremonial coin toss.
John Powell, a Perry graduate and veteran of the Vietnam War, was selected to serve as honorary Bluejay captain for the game.
Powell graduated from the State College of Iowa (UNI) in 1966 and entered the U.S. Marine Corps that year. In 1968 he was sent to Vietnam, where he served as a forward artillery observer along the North Vietnamese border. Wounded in action, he spent nine months in a Naval hospital and left the service in 1971.
