Police officers, firefighters and members of the community came together on Saturday at the thirty-fourth Pig Bowl’s Guns and Hoses football game to remember those servicemen who died in the line of duty in 2007.

Sacramento State alumnae Vu Nguyen was among a number of those honored. Nguyen, a police detective who graduated from Sacramento State in 1995, was killed in action on Wed., Dec. 19.

For the first time in six years, the firefighters, the Dogs, beat the law enforcement Hogs 9-6 on the Sac State football field.

Friends, co-workers, cheerleaders and even mascots showed up to be a part of the fiercely competitive game. And not everyone came for the same reasons.

“It is interesting to come out and see people play football who normally don’t play,” said Jody Johnson, government major.

Even the weather looked favorably on the event, considering the day before had plenty of rain and wind.

“It’s going fantastic, we have great weather,” game director Jim Cooper said during halftime. But the in the end, the real winners were the charities who benefited from the event’s proceeds. They were the real reason behind the event.

“(The game) is a tribute to the men who gave their lives. The winners are the charities and all the guys on the field no matter what happens,” Sheriff John McGinness said.

The football game was not the only attraction. Dave Andrews, a country singer whose brother lost his life in the line of duty, sang “Boys in Blue” for the opening ceremony. The Sacramento Fire Department played “Amazing Grace” and “Scotland the Brave” on the bagpipes.

Volunteers from the Sacramento Fire Department, Metro Fire Community Emergency Response Team, County Sheriff’s Department, Sacramento Sheriff K9 Association and others were all out to provide information and safety tips for the community.

“The support is better than the last few years,” William R. Dugdale said. Dugdale attended to field injuries and has come to the event since the early years.

“It really builds camaraderie,” Fire Chief Ray Jones said. “Both (servicemen) come at it from different ways but both protect the community.”

Families and friends joined for tailgate parties after the trophy presentations of the event.

“Pig” was once a derogatory name for law enforcement, but today’s law enforcement have turned it around as an acronym for their fund-raising events. Now, “pig” stands for pride, integrity and guts.

The Pig Bowl has given more than $1.5 million over the years to local charities. Some of the charities in the past include Volunteers in Victim Assistance, WIND Youth Services, Sheriff’s Toy Project and scholarships for schools and universities. In 2007, the Pig Bowl donated more than $50,000.