On fall Friday nights, the Fort Worth Brewer Fightin’ Bears take the field with a legacy leading the way.
“I feel like they’re taking my son Billy out onto the field with them,” said David Roberts.
Billy Brown graduated from Brewer high school in 1994, and enlisted in the army, eventually serving as a green beret.
“He did one tour in Iraq and one in Afghanistan,” said David. “He always made sure everyone came home safe.”
In Afghanistan in Noveember of 2006, Billy lost his life while serving his country.
“When they hit the I.E.D. it killed Bill,” said David. “It really affected the guys quite a bit because he kept their promise to them and they feel like they let him down.”
Billy‘s father, David, carries on his son’s legacy in many ways, including on the side of the truck he drives every day, and with a gift he gives to the Brewer football team every year.
“Obviously it’s very touching,” said Brewer football coach Todd Peterman. “We wanted to make sure we honored Bill very appropriately along with the rest of our armed forces.”
While Billy‘s unit continues to carry a Brewer high school flag in his honor wherever they are stationed around the world, the unit gives the Bears their flag, which the team carries while running onto the football field before games.
“There are just no words,” said David. “Doing what they’re doing, taking the flag onto the field, it means a lot.”
“They see what true brotherhood is, what true commitment is, and what true integrity is,” said Peterman. “Those are all things we strive for.”
It’s a way for the Fightin’ Bears to honor one of the greatest heroes in Brewer high school history, with a gift from a grieving father, a flag that represents a legacy the football team carries on by carrying it onto the field on Friday nights.
“I didn’t want Billy to be just another soldier that passed,” said David. “Hopefully they know they have angels watching over them.".