Eagles cheerleaders commemorate their 75th year.

When the Buffalo Bills visit Lincoln Financial Field this afternoon, the stadium will appear differently as the Eagles honor the Kelly Green era of the late 1980s and early 1990s.

The Eagles cheerleaders, a long-standing Philadelphia football tradition, will also be honored on Sunday’s throwback extravaganza.

Established in 1948, the Eagles Cheerleaders will celebrate their 75th anniversary in 2023. A perfect moment given that team’s chances of winning another championship are high and the Eagles won their first World Championship that season.

Since the formation of the original squad, a number of things have changed. The Eaglettes and Liberty Belles were the previous names for the Eagles Cheerleaders. The uniforms, created by the well-known international bridal designer Vera Wang, are sleek and contemporary. The songs from the 1970s disco era that served as the inspiration for the dance routines are very different from the music that the Eagles Cheerleaders will perform to on the field and on the sidelines, which captures the vibrant energy that the 33 women and men bring to every event.

The Eagles Cheerleaders’ goal and influence have not changed much over the years, despite superficial differences between 1948 and now.

Dolphins cheerleaders on game day for the Eagles
The Eagles cheerleaders made their debut during the inaugural Kelly Green game! View the greatest pictures from an exciting and historic evening.

“I had the honor of being named director in 2002, having served as a Philadelphia Eagles cheerleader from 1999 to 2001. Director of Entertainment Teams Barbara Zaun said, “I quickly realized the enormous and beautiful responsibility that existed to uphold the rich legacy of the program.” “Working with the amazing women and men who have represented the organization as Eagles Cheerleaders for the past 20+ years has been an honor, as has using the powerful platform we have to positively impact others’ lives. The genuine bond that Eagles cheerleaders have developed over decades with supporters in Philadelphia and around the globe is truly unique. I am incredibly grateful and excited to be a part of the 75th anniversary celebration.commemorating the Philadelphia Eagles Cheerleaders’ 50th anniversary and honoring their significant individual and group contributions to the Eagles organization.”

The Eagles Cheerleaders play a vital role that goes well beyond the stadium; on game days, they are seen live by nearly 70,000 fans and seen on television by millions more. They interact with supporters at hundreds of events every year; they don’t have a “offseason.” The Eagles Cheerleaders are proud to serve as global brand ambassadors and value developing close relationships with both the community and the fans.

Maggie Trush Hammond remembers going to a cheerleading competition in the 1980s and having the chance to meet the Eagles cheerleaders.

“I was in total awe of the glamorous, beautiful, charismatic, and talented women,” said Hammond. “I knew right then and there I would try out someday.”

In addition to trying out, Hammond was a member of the team from 1993 until 1998. Even though Hammond treasures the relationships and memories she has made with her teammates, she still keeps a photo of herself with a young cancer patient she met at a community function held at a nearby hospital. In the hospital room, the two would dance and apply makeup together. Before the young girl’s fight with cancer ended, Hammond kept in contact with her and her family for a number of years. Hammond works as a charge nurse for labor and delivery now.

Despite not having played during a gameday for over 20 years, Hammond continues to play a crucial role as the President of the Philadelphia Professional Football Cheerleader Alumni, an organization she assisted in founding in 2009. Cheryl Garguilo, who first tried out for the Eaglettes in 1965, is one of the members.

“Being a brand ambassador in the ’60s meant having the responsibility of embodying and promoting the values, image, and interests of the Philadelphia Eagles organization,” said Garguilo. “We were supposed to be passionate and upbeat ambassadors for the team, both on and off the field, interacting with supporters and the community, taking part in events and promotions, and building a strong bond between the team and followers. We served as the organization’s public face.”

The Eagles cheerleaders are positive role models who dispel prejudices and encourage others to embrace their individuality, have confidence in themselves, and pursue their goals. Both men and women have achieved success off the field in a variety of occupations, including chief marketing officer, analytical chemist, clinical research scientist in oncology, historian, and elementary and special education teacher.

However, that is not novel.

Growing up in the Philippines, Audrey Rostick, who cheered from 1993 to 1995, immigrated to the US at the age of seventeen with very little money. She paid for her college education, graduated with a degree in marketing, and has worked for some of the biggest tech companies in the world for the better part of forty years.

“It was important for me to represent our team of beautiful, bright, and diverse women with pride and integrity,” Rostick stated. “I was so proud to promote that we were driven, caring, and intelligent as we balanced cheering and volunteering part-time while holding full-time jobs such as nurses, HR managers, pharmaceutical reps, high-tech IT sales, teachers, and attorneys.”

Nicole Douglas-Di Paolo was born and raised in South Philadelphia, just a short distance from the former Veterans Stadium, whereas Rostick did not move to Philadelphia until she was a teenager.

“I recall going to my first game as a young child and sitting in the notorious 700 level in the Vet with my dad,” Pro Bowl cheerleader Douglas-Di Paolo, who was a member of the team from 1996 to 2004, said. “I told my father, ‘Daddy, I want to be a cheerleader!'” while I was observing the Eagles cheerleaders throughout the entire game. ‘We’re supposed to be watching the game,’ he replied, laughing. All I could do was smile. It was an honor and a privilege to be able to formally represent the team I grew up supporting. As a Philadelphia Eagles cheerleader, I’m incredibly appreciative to have had the chance to represent my city and get to know so many incredible supporters and lifelong friends—also known as Cheer Sisters.”

Although some Eagles cheerleaders went on to become best friends or “Cheer Sisters,” as Douglas-Di Paolo pointed out, there have been real sisters who have performed together on the squad. For two seasons (1984–1985), there were actually three sets of twins at the same time: Janet Wass Retter and Joyce Wass Hogan, Sandy Marinari Milto and Kathy Marinari Stephens, and Kelly Nickischer Crits and Kim Nickischer Makuvek. In reality, the Wasses are triplets with a brother.

That was highly unusual, according to Makuvek. “We were asked to take part in a number of events related to our ‘twin-ship,’ including a daytime talk show appearance on television, twin-related newspaper articles, and in-person appearances to share our experiences with other mothers of twins. With those other twin sets, we were and still are close friends. The six of us are shown in pictures taken 25 years apart. That is truly unique.”

Although the memories of cheering for the Eagles are priceless, there comes a time to hang up the pom poms. The abilities and knowledge gained from being an Eagles cheerleader facilitate the transition to novel and thrilling experiences in life. Motherhood is one of those.

“How should I phrase this? Mandi Moffa, who played for the Eagles from 2013 to 2018, said, “Being an Eagles fan helped me get ready for motherhood.” “Making the most of every day, embracing life, and getting ready for big occasions—or overly ready for any wardrobe or travel mishap—all helped me become the resilient, considerate, flexible, and organized mother and alumni cheerleader I am today. I am more self-assured, thoughtful, and grounded. Whether it’s within our city or my own four walls, I’m here to make our home a better place to be and to cheer people up.”

The Philadelphia Eagles Cheerleaders’ influence isn’t just felt in the City of Brotherly Love. Since there are Eagles Everywhere, the cheerleaders for the Eagles have travelled the world to cheer on supporters, particularly those in the armed forces. Rachel Washburn, a former cheerleader who served two tours of duty in Afghanistan with the U.S. Army, is not among them. Moffa visited the Diego Garcia U.S. Naval Support Base as part of a Goodwill Military Tour. When Corinne Chun visited Camp Zama, Japan during Super Bowl LVII, her sixth and final season as an Eagles cheerleader came to an end. In her native Hawaii, Chun completed another Goodwill Military Tour.

Chun, who teaches special education, is pleased that the Eagles Cheerleaders take part in the yearly Eagles.

“I was a face and a voice for each of my teammates, for myself, and for all of the things that the Eagles organization stood for,” Chun stated. “This was made particularly clear when the Eagles established the Eagles Autism Foundation and the Eagles Autism Challenge. In addition to educating my students on a daily basis as a special education teacher, I also get to inform the public about my incredible students and others who are similar to them in order to raise money and awareness for autism research as a brand ambassador.”

It’s something that always stays with you, regardless of how many seasons you spent there, like former Pro Bowl cheerleader Tara Nepa, who was a part of the team from 2001 to 2007.

“No matter how much time has passed, we still represent the Eagles organization,” Nepa stated.

For seventy-five years, the Eagles Cheerleaders have thrilled countless numbers of fans and left a lasting impression on successive generations. The service and dedication to Eagles Everywhere and the City of Philadelphia remains paramount, even though some of the glitz and glamour have changed.