Gallatin to honor Union High School with throwback football game

Gallatin High School will once again honor the Union Red Devils this year – this on the football turf. 
 
The Green Wave said Monday that they will hold a special throwback game for their Sept. 13 showdown against Dickson County. Union’s alumni, former players and the community are encouraged to come and be part of the pre-game ceremony. 
 
These changes will occur during the game hence Gallatin players will be in Union’s colors – green and gold uniform switched to maroon and white. 
 
“Union High School proudly stands as one of the oldest Minnesota schools, and we are glad to pay tribute to its athletes, coaches and supporters and their previous accomplishments for the Gallatin community,” said the head football coach Michael Stroup who came up with the idea. “This event is not only historic to assimilate the by-gone era but also proves how social integrity is still very much alive in Gallatin. ” 
 
The event is an off-shoot of other ‘throw-back’ activities by Gallatin’s basketball teams in honor of Union that graduated its first class one hundred years ago and bid adieu to football in 1969. 
 
Union was the only high school in Sumner County exclusively for the Blacks until the integration process began. 
 
Closed as a school since 1970 the former site of this school has evolved into the Shalom zone, a community resource center. 
 
“Union High School high academic standards stand tall as the community materialized and evolved, which is now Gallatin,” Gallatin High School Principal Ron Becker said in his statement. 
 
“With regards to the Union High School Red Devils, alumni, former players and the entire community is welcomed to celebrate the great achievements that the Union High School thrives for. ”