N.Y. lacrosse team dedicates season to Pope Airmen

  • Published
  • By Ed Drohan
  • 433rd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
GARDEN CITY, N.Y. (AFPN) --  When Brianna Maglio scored the first goal of the season for her fourth grade lacrosse team in Garden City, N.Y., she wasn’t just doing it for her team. 

The Gray Sweeties, Brianna's team, have dedicated this season to her brother, Airman Emilio Lavia, and his unit, the 43rd Logistics Readiness Squadron. The team’s show of support for the Pope Airmen is their way of thanking all of the men and women serving in the armed forces today, their coach said. 

“People in Garden City have a lot of respect for men and women serving in the military, especially since Sept. 11, 2001,” said Gray Sweeties Coach Don Pfail. Twenty-eight people from Garden City, just outside New York City, were killed in the attack on the World Trade Center, including several Mr. Pfail knew personally. 

“We lost David Leistman, who coached my son’s lacrosse team,” Mr. Pfail said. “Then there was the mother of one of my daughter’s classmates. We were riding the train into the city together that morning and she didn’t make it home. Garden City was hit pretty hard on 9-11.” 

Brianna Maglio joined the Gray Sweeties lacrosse team this year. When Darlene Maglio, Brianna and Airman Lavia’s mother, mentioned that her son had joined the Air Force and was serving at Pope, an idea began that eventually grew into the dedication. 

It made perfect sense since Airman Lavia was always close to his sisters, and was a staple at their games before enlisting in October 2005, Mrs. Maglio said. 

“He tied their cleats, warmed them up and was their biggest fan,” she said. “When it was time for him to leave for the Air Force and his sisters asked why he had to go, his answer was ‘for you -- to protect your freedom.’” 

So it was a natural for Brianna to want to do this for her brother, Mrs. Maglio said. 

“These are the things that keep our men and women serving our country motivated and proud,” she said. “It’s the gestures, the support.” 

Mr. Pfail searched the Internet for a point of contact at Pope so he could request 43rd LRS patches for the girls to sew on their team shirts as a visible sign of their support. Lt. Col. Daniel Bradley, 43rd LRS commander, happily supplied the patches along with a letter thanking them for their support of Airman Lavia and the 43rd LRS. 

“I think what they’re doing is great,” Colonel Bradley said. “So much of what you see out there is controversial, so to see the coach and the girls take this on is great. As the military is getting smaller, there’s less of a connection between us and the people in the community. To see (Brianna and her team) make this connection because her brother is serving is a positive reinforcement for what we’re doing.” 

Having the team’s season dedicated to him was something special, Airman Lavia said. 

“I’m proud of them,” he said. “They’re showing so much appreciation and thanks that nobody asked for. They’re doing it out of the kindness of the hearts.” 

His sister scoring the first goal of the season was something special for the Airman.

"She called me and said, ‘Rocky, I scored the first goal of the season and I did it for you!’ That meant a lot to me,” he said.

There is a cobra on the 43rd LRS patch and some say it might be bringing the team some luck as well. They have started the season with three straight wins and outscored their opponents 28 to 9. 

Airman Lavia said he hopes to catch some of their games when he heads home on leave in June, but it might not be the Gray Sweeties at that point. 

“The girls might want to rename the team the Cobras after this,” Mr. Pfail said.