The Bears on Tuesday hosted a reenlistment ceremony for members of the armed forces as part of their "Salute to Service" initiative, presented by USAA, at Halas Hall.
Accompanied by family and friends, Navy sailors and Army National Guard soldiers participated in the event in the PNC Center.
A reenlistment ceremony is a formal tradition where service members voluntarily extend their contracts to continue serving in the armed forces. It is highlighted by their reciting an official oath, pledging to support and defend the U.S. Constitution and obey orders from superiors.
"This is a choice that they're making, so this ceremony is based off of what the enlistee wants to do," said Shell Smith, commercial sponsorship coordinator at Morale, Welfare and Recreation Naval Station Great Lakes. "No one's telling them. No one's forcing them. It's 100% their choice, so it's special because it shows the commitment.
"This is a really unique and special opportunity that they can take for the rest of their career and say, 'I got to re-enlist at Halas Hall.' It's just something that no other installation can do, and we're so grateful that the Bears did it for us."
Bears chairman George H. McCaskey spoke to the group, detailing the strong bond between the Bears and the military that has existed for more than a century.
"The Bears have a special affinity for the armed forces, and it's not just because we play our games at Soldier Field," McCaskey said. "Our founder, George Halas, served his country in two world wars in the United States Navy."
McCaskey showed those in attendance a photograph of the Japanese surrender on the USS Missouri Sept. 2, 1945, which officially ended World War II. The photo belonged to Halas and includes a handwritten message from Chester Nimitz, a fleet admiral and Commander in Chief of the U.S. Navy, thanking him for his service.
"That photo occupies a place of honor in my office," McCaskey said.
Bears President and CEO Kevin Warren followed, telling members of the armed forces and their families, "It really is a blessing to stand before you today."
"We are honored," Warren said. "We are humbled by your service, your sacrifice, your commitment, and also for the service, sacrifice and commitment of your families, who have to hold things down during challenging times."
Warren told attendees that his father served in the Army in World War II and his brother served in the Marines in Vietnam.
"I know the commitment to excellence, and one of the reasons why we're able to do what we do here at the Chicago Bears and the National Football League in our daily lives is because of the sacrifices all of you make, so we do not take that lightly," Warren said.
Former Bears players Rashied Davis, Henry Melton and Kaseem Sinceno attended the ceremony, posing for photos and signing autographs.
"It's a great opportunity for our sailors to see the appreciation from the local community and especially an organization as important to Chicago as the Bears are," said Gary Hudson, Commanding Officer of the Transaction Service Center at nearby Naval Station Great Lakes. "For [the Bears] to be able to take the time for them is just huge. That's the reason why I brought most of my entire command here for this opportunity because they may never get an opportunity like this in their lifetimes."
"It's fantastic," added Nick O'Neill, Commanding Office for Navy Talent Acquisition Group Great Lakes. "Any chance that we can get out in the community is a great one. So much of what the military does and what the Navy does, you do it for your friends and family back home, and to know that you have the support of an organization like the Bears, it's pretty cool. It's a unique opportunity for the team to get here and get to do something as special as a reenlistment in a facility like this."
