Very few things in life hit the heart harder than a well-sung national anthem at a college football game. It is a quintessentially American experience.
William Lain had the distinct honor of bringing goosebumps to all those in attendance at the First Responder Bowl on Tuesday afternoon. He did his country proud.
Lain, a police officer in Grapevine, Texas by day, moonlights as a country music artist. His voice is as crisp and sultry as you might expect when you read the previous sentence.
In spirit of the First Responder Bowl’s name, Lain was recruited to make the short trip from Grapevine to the campus of SMU to begin the college football game by honoring the greatest country on planet earth. A helicopter flew overhead as he stood proud and delivered a spine-tingling rendition of the Star-Spangled Banner.
(ESPN had some audio issues at first, but Lain sounded great once the production truck got it figured out.)
If you listened closely, you might have heard the crowd yell “STARS!” at every opportunity. Much of the crowd was local, with Texas State and Rice playing in the game and the game being in Dallas.
Fans of the city’s NHL team partook in their pregame tradition. They are the Dallas… Stars.
The First Responder Bowl is a great opportunity for college football fans to make a difference.
In addition to providing a college football game at 4:00 p.m. local time on a Tuesday afternoon (praise be), SERVPRO uses its sponsorship to give back. They take every opportunity to “say thanks for the bravery and courage of those who arrive first at the scene of an emergency,” invite first responders to attend the game on their dime, and donate to three important charities.
- The Guns & Hoses Foundation of North Texas
- “Guns and Hoses Foundation of North Texas provides support for the families of fallen officers and firefighters in our communities.”
- National Organization of Black Law Enforcement
- “OUR MISSION: To ensure EQUITY IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE in the provision of public service to all communities, and to serve as the conscience of law enforcement by being committed to JUSTICE BY ACTION.”
- International Public Safety Association
- “Our vision is for a stronger, more integrated public safety community capable of an effective joint response to all incidents.”
Anyone who says that there are too many bowl games not only hates fun, but neglects to remember the good that such an event can do for the community. The First Responder Bowl honors some of our nation’s greatest heroes and Lain kicked it all off.
If you happen to be in Grapevine/Dallas over the next few weeks, Lain is set to perform a few shows in the area. He would certainly love your support!