By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Joseph Morgon, USS Theodore Roosevelt Public Affairs
USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT, At Sea (NNS) -- Five National Football League (NFL) players and five NFL cheerleaders visited USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) at sea in the Gulf of Oman Feb. 1 to help the forward-deployed crew celebrate Super Bowl XLIII.
Noah Herron, running back for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (who just signed a contract with the New York Jets), Adam Hayward, linebacker for the Buccaneers, Nick Roach, linebacker for the Chicago Bears, Dave Rayner, kicker for the Cincinnati Bengals (who just signed with the Washington Redskins), Lanell Culver, defensive back for the Miami Dolphins and five of the New England Patriots cheerleaders spent time with the crew throughout the day before the evening festivities began.
The guests received a tour of the ship, and visited with Sailors. The tour included participation in one of the daily foreign object damage walk-downs on the flight deck. Later that night, the cheerleaders performed in the hangar bay for the TR crew.
"[The cheerleaders] were very entertaining and beautiful," said Yeoman 2nd Class (SW) Brandon Kaiser, one of many Sailors who enjoyed the cheerleaders' performance. "TR was blessed to have their presence on board."
During the show, cheerleaders inviting several Sailors on stage to dance and play games.
"This ship is amazing," said Brittany Bonchuk, a New England Patriots cheerleader. "We have been totally overwhelmed. The crew welcomed us with open arms and everyone has been very friendly. We hope that [the Sailors] have enjoyed us being here and we can't wait to come back."
After the performance, Sailors met with players and cheerleaders who signed autographs.
"It's been a lot of fun and was definitely something that we were looking forward to," said Herron. "You guys have made this and unbelievable experience. We know this is a big time for you and we know how much it means to you; it means just as much to us."
TR and embarked Carrier Air Wing 8 are currently deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet Area of Operations and are focused on reassuring regional partners of the United States' commitment to security, which promotes stability and global prosperity.
