Rosecrans football team volunteers on Memorial Day weekend – WHIZ

Memorial Day is a day to remember those who died while serving in active military service, and that's exactly what the Rosecrans High School football team did. Early that morning, the 35 members of the football team went to Greenwood Cemetery to join their coaches like Mike Zemba in laying flags on the graves of fallen veterans.

“It means the world to me. My grandfather, Mike Zemba, served in World War II. I never served, but it's because of people like that that I'm a patriot. And you know, I try to explain to our team the sacrifices people like that made. Especially younger guys today may not realize that, but it means the world to us and that's something we constantly push in our team and in our team atmosphere,” Zemba said.

For some players, like offensive lineman Logan Pratt, personal military connections within their own families helped them understand the significance of their sacrifices.

“My father served in the Navy for four or five years and it means a lot to me to pay my respects to people like him and others who have helped our country,” Pratt said.

This act of community service is just one part of the team's broader effort to give back to the community, something quarterback Hayden Perdue finds quite rewarding.

“I mean, I was kind of excited. I just want to do something for other people. It makes me feel better. They risked their lives for us, which just means a lot to me,” Perdue said.

Both Pratt and Perdue will be seen on the field for the Rosecrans football team as juniors this fall.