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For Maumee athletic director Cam Coutcher, honoring military members and their families is about recognizing the daily sacrifices they make for everyone. Coutcher speaks from experience — two of his brothers are actively serving in the U.S. Navy.

Maumee will honor military members and first responders during Friday night’s football game against Lake with Military Appreciation and First Responders Night at Kazmaier Stadium. Fans with a military ID or first responder ID will receive free admission to the game.

The 180th Air National Guard Fighter Wing will perform a flyover at 6:51 p.m.

“I see the commitment (my brothers) give to their country and what that means to them,” Coutcher said. “They have families that sacrifice time together and special moments that many of us take for granted. Honoring our active, retired and deceased military members is bringing attention to the sacrifices, and Maumee City Schools is excited to have a special night for them.”

The event also carries special meaning for two members of the Panthers football program.

Junior Noah Huddleston’s father, Brian, served in the U.S. Army for 20 years before retiring last summer. His career included three deployments to Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan. For the younger Huddleston, those years were difficult.

“Sometimes it would get rough,” Huddleston said. “My mom would have to take over when he was gone. … It was a rough time when he was gone, just thinking about him. I’d worry about him all the time, praying for him at night.”

Assistant coach Zach Stamm’s father, Matt, serves with the 180th Fighter Wing and has been on multiple deployments. Stamm said the most difficult one was a six-month deployment when he was younger. Still, he said those experiences brought his family closer together.

“We’re definitely a closer family,” Stamm said. “You hear about brothers and sisters that don’t get along too well, but my sister is my best friend. It’s the way we were raised. It brought us a lot closer together.”

Stamm also remembers the added responsibilities at home when his father was away, even if it took some time to truly understand his role when his dad said he was “the man of the house.”

“I don’t know why I thought that meant I was the boss. I got in trouble for it a couple of times,” Stamm said. “My mom would be like, ‘That’s not what he meant. He meant that you were protecting everyone in the house.’ To this day, I don’t know what I was thinking. I didn’t think that through at all.”

For families like the Huddlestons and Stamms, nights like Friday’s are a chance to feel seen, respected and honored.

Even outside of events like this, Huddleston said he is always reminded of his dad’s service.

“When we do the Star-Spangled Banner, I see my dad in the stands,” Huddleston said. “It makes me think of him.”

Photo courtesy of Pride of the Panthers
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