<p>By BILL WAGNER
Published February 26, 2008</p>
<p>Navy held its annual football awards banquet recently. Of course, such senior standouts as Reggie Campbell, Irv Spencer, Antron Harper and Adam Ballard were honored. However, one of the most emotional moments of the evening came when an unheralded senior received a very special award named in honor of a true Navy football hero.</p>
<p>A standing ovation ensued after it was revealed that inside linebacker Jon Alvarado had been chosen to receive the First Lt. Ron Winchester Unsung Hero Award. The long and heartfelt applause was a moving tribute to Winchester, a former Navy offensive lineman who was killed in the line of duty while fighting in Iraq.</p>
<p>Alvarado, a team leader even though he was not a starter, was caught completely off guard by the award. Seated at a table along with his parents, girlfriend and sponsor, Alvarado was clearly stunned when his name was announced.</p>
<p>Alvarado was proud because he knew the award winner was chosen by vote of players. The Louisiana native was honored because he looked up and saw Ron and Marianne Winchester walking to the podium to formally present the award. Ever since the award was established three years ago, the Winchesters have traveled to Annapolis from Rockville Center, N.Y., to honor their son and personally congratulate the winner.</p>
<p>“It was the most humbling experience of my life,” Alvarado said. “The fact my teammates voted for me and the fact the award is named for a Navy football player who made the ultimate sacrifice, I don’t know if there could be a greater honor.”</p>
<p>Capt. Ryan Hamilton, who played alongside Ron Winchester and now serves as military liaison for the Navy football coaching staff, escorted the Winchesters to the podium. With the crowd still standing and applauding loudly, Marianne Winchester threw her arms around Alvarado in a heartfelt embrace.</p>
<p>“It was an extremely powerful and emotional moment. Mrs. Winchester grabbed me and we both broke down sobbing. I could feel the love she had for her son through the hug she gave me,” Alvarado said. “It just goes to show how far-reaching the Navy football brotherhood can be, it connects players from different eras.”</p>
<p>Ron Winchester was an offensive lineman who worked his way up the depth chart and started in 1999 and 2000. The 2001 Naval Academy graduate joined the United States Marine Corps and served meritoriously as an infantry officer until he was killed on the battlefields of Al Anbar Province on Sept. 3, 2004.</p>
<p>Capt. Hamilton, who still serves in the Marine Corps, tells the current players about Ron Winchester and the values he espoused prior to when they vote on the award. He talks about how Ron Winchester sustained broken ribs in the first quarter of the 1999 meeting with Notre Dame, but played the entire game without complaint.</p>
<p>“Ron was a highly competitive individual and an extremely loyal friend. He was selfless, eager to help others and always displayed a great deal of courage,” Hamilton said.</p>
<p>Hamilton said Alvarado was a landslide winner of this year’s Winchester Unsung Hero Award. Navy football players voted overwhelmingly for the backup inside linebacker who always thought about the team before himself.</p>
<p>“Jon possesses the same attributes as Ron Winchester. He displayed selflessness throughout his career, was always very caring of his teammates, played with tremendous intensity at all times and was willing to do whatever it took to accomplish the mission,” Hamilton said.</p>
<p>Alvarado, a native of Baton Rouge, La., was the backup to Irv Spencer at inside linebacker and played on several special teams. The 6-foot-2, 227-pounder flew under the radar most of the season until forcing a fumble on the goal line against Army. Alvarado drilled Black Knights fullback Mike Viti to jar the ball loose.</p>
<p>It was a rare moment of glory for Alvarado, who did not play enough to earn a varsity letter until his senior season. The Winchester Unsung Hero Award is presented to an unheralded senior who is recognized as an overachiever and role model to his teammates. Spencer, who served as defensive captain, said that description fits Alvarado, who serves as Eighth Company Commander for the Brigade of Midshipmen.</p>
<p>“Jon is one of those guys who has the complete respect of everyone on the team. He’s always asking what he can do for the team, how he can help out one of his fellow players,” said Spencer, who is also Alvarado’s roommate. “I couldn’t think of anyone better for this award because Jon Alvarado represents what Navy football is all about.”</p>
<p>Mike Kelly served as Alvarado’s sponsor since the youngster was a plebe and came to love him like another son. Alvarado spent considerable time at the Kelly home in St. Margaret’s and developed into an outstanding role model for the family’s five children.</p>
<p>“Jon Alvarado is the type of top-notch individual that makes you feel very good about the youth of America,” Kelly said. “People should feel fortunate to know that someone of Jon’s character and heart will be protecting our country.”</p>
<p>Three days after the uplifting and emotional presentation, Alvarado was still in awe about receiving the award. He thought of all the other Navy football players who were leaders in the locker room, on the field and around the academy and was even more humbled to have been chosen.</p>
<p>“My whole deal is service to my teammates. I took my role as a senior leader very seriously. I felt it was my duty and responsibility to set a good example at all times for the younger players,” he said. “I think the most important element I tried to bring every day was a positive attitude. Attitude is the one thing every player can control, and it’s a lesson to the younger guys to see a senior who doesn’t play a whole lot coming to practice day-in and day-out with the proper approach and a positive attitude.”</p>