CHARLOTTESVILLE — Josh Yago saluted during the national anthem before the NCAA Division I men’s lacrosse championship game between Notre Dame and Princeton on May 25, 2026. He stood at attention on the Notre Dame sideline wearing full team gear and with his helmet off as 'The Star-Spangled Banner' played.

Yago, a second lieutenant in the U.S. Space Force and a graduate transfer from the U.S. Air Force Academy, rendered the military salute in accordance with protocol for active-duty service members during the anthem. He also wore an American flag patch on his jersey during the championship game.

Videos of Yago saluting during the anthem were posted on social media and quickly received hundreds of thousands of views. His gesture occurred during the Memorial Day weekend matchup, a time when the nation honors those who died while serving in the armed forces.

Yago played his first four years of college lacrosse at the U.S. Air Force Academy, where he became one of the best players in the program’s history. He transferred to Notre Dame for his final season of college lacrosse eligibility and plans to continue serving in the U.S. military after his college career ends.

According to USA Lacrosse, one of Yago’s mentors from the Air Force Academy reminded him to 'play for those service members' during Memorial Day weekend. Yago said he wanted to represent his brothers and sisters at Air Force, Space Force and across the military.

Yago’s salute aligned with Department of Defense guidelines, which require active-duty personnel in uniform to render a hand salute during the national anthem. As a commissioned officer in the Space Force, Yago was in uniform while on the Notre Dame sideline, fulfilling that requirement.