THOUSAND OAKS, Calif – The Lancers won their first home game of the season on Sept. 13, but that wasn’t close to the most important part of the night. Half an hour before kickoff, the jersey retirement for Anthony Melia began. Friends and family came from all over to remember Melia. Coach Ben McEnroe along with the team captains paid their respects. Rather than the standard green home jerseys, the Lancers wore special black jerseys.
Melia was a freshman in high school when the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks took place. Following his high school graduation in 2005, the former TOHS football player traded in the green and white number 6 uniform for the blue US Marine Corps uniform.
On Jan. 27, 2007, Melia was shot and killed while on patrol in the Anbar province of Iraq, he was 20 years old.
His jersey retirement ceremony was a chance for his family, teammates and friends to remember him.
“He never fair caught a punt or kick,” said Andrew Frey, his Class of ‘05 teammate. “He was completely fearless, willing to catch the ball with people bearing down on him. One game he separated his shoulder and popped it back on the sideline and went back on defense. A total team-first guy. And outside of football, he was everybody’s friend. Everybody wanted to be friends with him and he reciprocated that.”
Despite it being due to a heartbreaking tragedy, the whole town came out to support the Melia family, all of Thousand Oaks came together as one.
“Anthony was Vicky and Mike’s son, but he was everyone’s son, all the football moms loved him as their own,” Donna Lloyd Lovretovich said.
Coach McEnroe had a vision to give the ultimate hero the ultimate recognition for the sacrifice he made for his country. McEnroe retired Melia’s number to once again show the Melia’s how much the community loves and supports them.
The same night that saw a ceremony to honor Anthony Melia forever, ended with a blowout victory for the Lancers over West Ranch with a final score of 30-7.
“Thank you for honoring that uniform tonight,” coach McEnroe said to his team in the post game huddle following the victory.
