BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. –
Active duty and reserve airmen from Beale and Travis Air Force Bases were honored during the inaugural home game of the Sacramento Republic FC at Hughes Stadium in Sacramento, California, April 26.
The airmen presented a large American flag at mid-field during the National Anthem. A nine-ship formation fly-over, led by 13th Reconnaissance Squadron reservist, Lt. Col. John Tate, was performed by the NorCal Beechboys, a local Beechcraft flying club.
The Republic vs. Harrisburg City Islanders match-up drew a USL Pro Soccer game regular-season record of 20,231 fans.
"To get 20,000 people out here is incredible," forward Adam Jahn, who grew up in Sacramento County and scored Republic FC's goal on Saturday night, told ABC News 10. "It just shows the following in Sacramento, and it's going to be really exciting going forward."
Unfortunately, the Republic fell to the Islanders 2-1.
The newly formed team is a part of the United Soccer Leagues Men's Professional Soccer and will be based at Bonney Field at Cal Expo in Sacramento. The 8,000 seat stadium is currently under construction and is scheduled to open June 7, 2014.