LTC Brock Gaston, Battalion Commander, 1/171st Aviation Regiment poses with Head Coach Jim Mora and Enso Vakoutis, 7, and brother from Duluth.

June 9, 2005 --Falcon's quarterback Michael Vick's usual precision pass to running back Warrick Dunn was uncharacteristically dropped when the All Pro running back glanced up at the approach of a flight of four Georgia Army National Guard Blackhawk helicopters at treetop level descending rapidly toward the end zone at the Atlanta Falcons training camp at Flowery Branch. 

"I didn't know what was happening," said Mike Vick, "but I was ready to get off the field, get in my car and drive back home."

As the helicopter's prop wash blew debris onto the practice field, the Falcons morning scrimmage was halted temporarily as all eyes watched the giant helicopters ease carefully to ground.

The arrival of four Blackhawks during the last day of training camp for the Atlanta Falcons was part of a plan which took shape in November 2003 when the 200-member Georgia Army National Guard Blackhawk unit deployed to Kuwait in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom.

"It all began when a number of Falcon players took the time out of their game schedule in late November 2003 to visit our guys as we made final preparations for a deployment," said Major Brent Hanson, Alpha Company Commander.  The Georgia Army Aviation Company secured early approval from the Atlanta Falcons to fashion a unit patch using the distinctive Falcon logo which members wore on their  flight suits throughout their deployment.

"We made a promise between us at that time that once we returned, we would pick a time to return the visit to the Falcons at their home, just as they had visited with us here at Dobbins," continued Hanson.

"Few knew anything of the plan with Coach John Mora and the Falcons to "drop in" to view practice" said LTC Brock Gaston, Commander of the 1/171^st Aviation Regiment. I believe we took most on the field by surprise".  Even Falcon owner Arthur Blank stopped talking with GM Rich McKay long enough to view the "touch down" of the four choppers.

The reception by the Falcon players and staff for the arriving Guardsmen was totally unexpected.

"It's great to have all you guys home again," said running back Warrick Dunn who was among the players that visited at Dobbins a year earlier.  Over the past year, Dunn was part of a USO tour that spent six weeks in Iraq .

"I really didn't know if we could get together again as we had originally planned," said Brian Finneran, Falcon wide receiver who was among those players who visited with the unit before their departure.

Although the practice was temporarily halted for the arriving helicopters, scrimmage quickly continued and Guardsmen had the opportunity to stand only a few feet away from their gridiron heroes.

Coach Mora invited the 20 members of the 1/171^st to join the players in the final huddle of spring practice. Initially commenting on the results of the spring practice and the potential for this season's Atlanta Falcons, Mora quickly turned to the unique relationship that has developed between the Falcons and the Georgia National Guard.

"We are really proud of all you guys, "said Mora.  "You've put your lives on the line so that we can do what we do, and we deeply appreciate it.  You are our heroes.  I only wish that that we could have brought home a Superbowl win for you guys."

Guardsmen unfurled a large American flag signed by all members of the Falcons that reportedly hung in the company's operations room in Kuwait .

Following a brief lunch, twenty-six sizable members of the team garnered sufficient courage to board waiting helicopters for the promised half hour flight through the hills and valleys of the north Georgia Mountains .

That was fantastic!" said offensive lineman Barry Stone stepping off the Blackhawk and regaining his stability. "But I don't see how you guys fly those things when people are shooting at you."

Rod Coleman, 6'2" and 285 lbs defensive lineman admonished pilots, "If something happens to me up there, my momma is comin'after you." The mammoth lineman who squares off with some of the biggest in the NFL every week grimaced throughout the flight keeping one eye tightly closed and maintaining a death grip on the side of the seat.

Not every Falcon player was used to flying in a black hawk judging by the expression Rod Coleman's face.