The Lombardi Trophy visits McChord

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Russ Jackson
  • 62nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. --  The Seattle Seahawks were crowned the National Football League Super Bowl XLVIII champions after beating the Denver Broncos last February at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. To say "thank you" to their fans serving in the armed forces, the Seahawks came to Joint Base Lewis-McChord to show off the team's first-ever Vince Lombardi Trophy.

The 2014 Seattle Seahawks 12 Tour is taking the Super Bowl championship trophy on a journey through the Pacific Northwest this summer with stops as south as Portland, Oregon and as north as Anchorage, Alaska. McChord Field transformed Hangar 9 into a 12th Man party zone as their tour kicked off here July 1.

"We're actually doing two tours this year," said Tony Ventrella, Seattle Seahawks digital media host. "It's the end of the Heroes of the 12 Tour visiting military bases and the beginning of the 12 Tour all in one day."

Ventrella thanked Airmen and Soldiers for their military service and their support as Seahawks fans during the season. Then he invited Col. David Kumashiro, 62nd Airlift Wing commander, on stage to personally thank him and present him with a Seattle Seahawks 12 flag.

"When looking at the Seahawks championship season, it is inspiring for us as service members to see that kind of performance," Kumashiro said. "Like the Seahawks, the Airmen and the Soldiers you see here today are all about teamwork, commitment and dedication."

While the Lombardi trophy took center stage, the event brought an abundance of entertainment for JBLM service members. Members of the Sea Gals, Blitz the mascot and the Blue Thunder drum line band were in attendance interacting with the guests.

However, the most exciting part for Soldiers and Airmen was the chance to get an autograph from three Seahawks players.

Linebacker Korey Toomer, cornerback DeShawn Shead and wide receiver Phil Bates were greeted by the crowd with thunderous applause. Toomer was drafted by Seattle in the 5th round of the 2012 NFL draft, while both Shead and Bates signed with the team later that year as free agents.

The players sat upon the stage, under a giant 12 flag that blew in the wind, for a question and answer session before they signed autographs and took photos with the service members.

"We appreciate you guys a lot," said Shead. "You guys are a tremendous factor in our game. Without your support we honestly wouldn't be here today, and even Peyton Manning can tell you that."

While the lines for autographs were long, those waiting had plenty to keep them amused.

Aside from performances by the Sea Gals and Blue Thunder, the Seahawks had also set up a bean bag toss game, an oversized inflated football helmet fans could take pictures inside of and large cut-outs of popular players allowing fans to see how their heights matched up.

Ventrella challenged the 12th Man fans to prove they were still the loudest in the NFL. Those in the hangar screamed and cheered as hard as they could.

The noise was not as rambunctious as the magnitude 2.0 earthquake fans generated during Marshawn Lynch's famous "beast quake" run in 2011, nor as deafening as the Guinness Book World Record of 137.6 decibels recorded at Century Link field in 2013, but those in attendance enjoyed the opportunity to cheer for the Seahawks once again.

"It's just the Seahawks way of sharing the success all of the fans helped bring," said Ventrella.