It’s Military Appreciation Day at Beaver Stadium, and Saturday’s game between Penn State and Indiana has been filled with military tributes and messages of encouragement on the video boards from active-duty service members.
For one family, however, the day brought a surprise reunion in between the first and second quarters.
U.S. Navy officer Noah Young appeared on the video boards to send his family a message, and his wife, Kayla, who used to play for Penn State women’s soccer, was surprised by Nittany Lion legends Ali Krieger and Alyssa Naeher. Although being surprised by a pair of World Cup champions is awesome in itself, but it doesn’t come close to comparing to what happened next.
Young was wheeled onto the field in uniform before getting mobbed by his family — and the Nittany Lion, of course. The family then linked up with Naeher and Krieger to lead a “We Are” chant with the student section.
What a surprise! Reunited with his wife & family in front of #107kStrong in Beaver Stadium… Welcome home, Noah! #WeAre pic.twitter.com/14rThGV1lk
— Penn State Football (@PennStateFball) November 16, 2019
On top of the numerous video messages from troops on the scoreboard, Penn State linebacker Cam Brown led the Nittany Lions out of the tunnel with an American flag in hand. Both of his parents served in the Navy, and he was a natural successor to Amani Oruwariye, who led the team out on military appreciation day last year with his mother’s American flag.
Military appreciation day is always a special one at Beaver Stadium, but this year’s will be one that the Young family never forgets because of its surprise reunion.
Cam Brown leads the Penn State football team onto the field for the Military Appreciation Day game against Indiana on Nov. 16, 2019 at Beaver Stadium. Photo by Matt Sniegowski | Onward State
