Throughout the fall season, the Massachusetts Maritime Academy Buccaneers have been honoring our nation's Military members and veterans through our partnership with Milton CAT. This year, our football, men's soccer, and women's soccer teams have welcomed an honorary captain to the field for a game that has connections to the Academy and our nation's military branches. 

Before the Buccaneer football team's matchup with Worcester State University on November 8th, team captains Mac Kromenhoek, TJ Jones, and Eddie Barlage were joined on the field for the coin toss by Lieutenant Eric Holmes, a 2015 graduate of Massachusetts Maritime, an employee at Milton CAT as a field technician, and an Ordnance Officer in the Rhode Island Army National Guard. 

Earlier in the season, the Buccaneers women's soccer team welcomed Rich Ragucci, father of current women's soccer player Maddie Ragucci, as well as current Buc Eliza Brook, to their game against Bridgewater State. Rish served in the Navy at Norfolk Naval Base aboard the USS George Washington as an Aviation Boatswain's Mate Handler and has served as a Saugus firefighter for 28 years. Eliza graduated from Coast Guard basic training in August as an honor graduate and will serve in the USCG upon graduating from the Academy.

At the men's soccer match against UMass Dartmouth, the Bucs welcomed and honored Patrick Moore Sr., father of current Buccaneers Patrick Moore Jr. Mr. Moore served in the United States Army from 2002 to 2006 and was stationed at Fort Drum as part of the 10th Mountain Division. He was deployed to Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom from 2003 to 2004. 

Thank you to Milton CAT for assisting us in honoring these American Military members, and thank you to LT Holmes, Rich Ragucci, Eliza Brook, and Patrick Moore Sr. for your service to our nation.