New York Islanders Honor Local Airmen During Military Appreciation Night at UBS Arena - 27 East
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Government / News / Southampton Press / 2053489

New York Islanders Honor Local Airmen During Military Appreciation Night at UBS Arena

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U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Jordan St. Clair, a pararescueman with the 106th Rescue Wing on Francis S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base, rappels onto the ice before the New York Islanders Veterans Day game Nov. 10. St. Clair was one of four pararescuemen invited to deliver the ceremonial first puck of the game. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Airman 1st Class Sarah McKernan)

U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Jordan St. Clair, a pararescueman with the 106th Rescue Wing on Francis S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base, rappels onto the ice before the New York Islanders Veterans Day game Nov. 10. St. Clair was one of four pararescuemen invited to deliver the ceremonial first puck of the game. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Airman 1st Class Sarah McKernan)

U.S. Air Force pararescuemen from the 106th Rescue Wing on Francis S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base, drop the puck for the Veteran's Day New York Islanders Game Nov. 10, 2022. The Islanders paid tribute to veterans during their game against the Arizona Coyotes by inviting the 106th pararescuemen to rappel onto the ice during the National Anthem and perform the ceremonial puck drop as the guests of honor with New York Islanders captain Anders Lee and Arizona Coyotes forward Christian Fischer. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Airman 1st Class Sarah McKernan)

U.S. Air Force pararescuemen from the 106th Rescue Wing on Francis S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base, drop the puck for the Veteran's Day New York Islanders Game Nov. 10, 2022. The Islanders paid tribute to veterans during their game against the Arizona Coyotes by inviting the 106th pararescuemen to rappel onto the ice during the National Anthem and perform the ceremonial puck drop as the guests of honor with New York Islanders captain Anders Lee and Arizona Coyotes forward Christian Fischer. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Airman 1st Class Sarah McKernan)

U.S. Air Force Tech Sgt. Eric Cooley, a pararescueman with the 106th Rescue Wing on Francis S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base, rappels onto the ice before the New York Islanders Veterans Day game November. 10. Cooley was one of four pararescuemen invited to deliver the ceremonial first puck of the game. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Airman 1st Class Sarah McKernan)

U.S. Air Force Tech Sgt. Eric Cooley, a pararescueman with the 106th Rescue Wing on Francis S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base, rappels onto the ice before the New York Islanders Veterans Day game November. 10. Cooley was one of four pararescuemen invited to deliver the ceremonial first puck of the game. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Airman 1st Class Sarah McKernan)

authorStaff Writer on Nov 16, 2022

Four pararescuemen from the 106th Rescue Wing at Francis S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base in Westhampton scored a major goal on November 10, when they rappelled down to the ice and performed the ceremonial puck drop during the New York Islanders Military Appreciation game against the Arizona Coyotes.

Senior Master Sergeant Sam Prescott, Master Sergeant Jordan St. Clair, Technical Sergeant Eric Cooley and Senior Airman Matt Pluhowski, all pararescuemen from the 103rd Rescue Squadron, slid down to the ice from the UBS Arena’s rafters during the national anthem. The quartet of honorees landed in four sections of the rink, then walked a blue carpet to center ice, where Prescott dropped the puck between Islanders captain Anders Lee and Coyotes forward Christian Fischer to the sound of roaring fans.

More than 500 tickets to the game were distributed to military members and their families in gratitude and appreciation for their service.

There were “I Salute” placards at each seat. Attendees were encouraged to write supportive messages and hold them up during the game.

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