The referee officiating Saturday’s Celebration Bowl had some disappointing news for Jackson State fans at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

However, before delivering the penalty announcement, he took a moment to express his respect for military veterans.

In a unique gesture, referee Rory Bernard paid tribute to military personnel before announcing a 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty against Jackson State, which canceled a touchdown during their match against South Carolina State.

“I’d like to salute our military veterans,” Bernard declared, and then he performed a salute that prompted cheers from the crowd.

After acknowledging the veterans, he announced the penalty, which negated an impressive 81-yard punt return touchdown from Jackson State’s Travis Terrell Jr., a score that could have put the Tigers ahead 7-0 early in the first quarter of this annual clash between the champions of the Southwestern Athletic Conference and the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.

Bernard’s heartfelt tribute may be attributed to the broader context of the day’s events.

The Celebration Bowl kicked off a busy college football Saturday that also featured the Army-Navy Game and the Salute to Veterans Bowl between South Alabama and Western Michigan in Montgomery, Alabama.