NATCHITOCHES – Northwestern State University continued its tradition of honoring those serving in the U.S. Armed Forces by inviting veterans and active duty soldiers to participate in game day activities and the pregame coin toss at the school’s home football game Sept. 7.
Honorary Captains for the Sept. 7 game versus Midwestern State were Staff Sergeant Charles “Trey” Cotton III, U.S. Army Retired; Sergeant Juan Galarza, Cadet Bruna Galarza and daughter Camila, who hail from Danbury, Connecticut.
Sergeant Galarza is a Combat Medic who serves as an Emergency Room Non-commissioned officer for U.S. Army Medical Department Activity at Fort Polk.
Cadet Bruna Galarza recently left her enlisted assignment with the 519th Military Police Battalion at Fort Polk to become an officer through NSU ROTC and the Army’s Green to Gold Program. She has over nine years of military service, including a one-year deployment to Afghanistan, and is pursuing a Master of Science degree in Homeland Security at Northwestern State.
The Galarza family was joined Bruna’s father, Marco Ferreira, visiting from Connecticut; Jessica Ferreira, and friends Darrin and Diane Burnettsmith. Camila celebrated her third birthday at the football game.
Cotton last served as a Cavalry Scout with 1st Cavalry Division, 1st Brigade Reconnaissance Troop. He served seven years, including a one-year deployment to Sadar City and Baghdad, Iraq. Cotton hails from Many and was joined by his wife Melanie, son Chaz and Stacy Cotton, Cody Goings and Ali Sims.
Lieutenant Colonel Wendell Bender, NSU ROTC Professor of Military Science, and Lieutenant Colonel Arthur Smalley, U.S. Army Retired, Northwestern Demon Regiment Chief of Staff, escorted the honorary captains.
