A salute to those officials who served our country

We recognize all those who have served our country on this day, and we salute the veterans on the NFL officiating staff.

LJ59 Rusty Baynes (USMC)

SJ109 Dyrol Prioleau (USAF)

DJ90 Mike Spanier (USAR)

BJ12 Greg Steed (Persian Gulf War, USMC/USMCR)

R42 Lt. Col. Jeff Triplette (Persian Gulf War, USA/USAR)

RO Lou Nazzaro (Vietnam War, USA)

 Click or tap an image above to open as slides. Click the arrows below to navigate.

From Getty Images:

• BJ38 Greg Yette (USA Infantry)
• RO Tom Sifferman (Vietnam War, USA)
• RO 1st Lt. Carl Madsen (Vietnam War, USAF)

Of note, referee Jeff Triplette is a Bronze Star Medal recipient. Field judge Mearl Robinson is currently serving in the U.S. Air Force.

We also extend our thanks to our colleague, Football Zebras writer Rich Madrid, a 10-year U.S. Navy veteran who was deployed three times to the Middle East.

In time, we may see many more veterans in stripes, thanks to Battlefields to Ballfields — a charitable organization founded in 2016 by Mike Pereira that trains and equips veterans for officiating.

Photos: Baynes (Kansas City Chiefs), Prioleau (Philadelphia Eagles), Robinson (Minnesota Vikings), Spanier (Oakland Raiders), Steed (Carolina Panthers), Triplette (Green Bay Packers), Nazzaro (NFL handout photo).