Nebraska Veterans & Active Military Honored Nov. 10-11

On November 10, 2018 when Nebraska hosts Illinois in Memorial Stadium, Nebraska Athletics will salute all veterans and active military inn attendance. An estimated 700 active military and veterans have secured seats in the stands and on the east apron of Tom Osborne Field. Included in the 700 tickets are members of the Female Veteran’s Honor Flight group who recently returned from their DC Visit of the Memorials led by Bill and Evonne Williams of Patriotic Productions. Female Veterans of all ages enjoyed the September trip to view monuments and upon returning home were greeted by 2,000 cheering Nebraskans.  

Features for Fans to Enjoy during Veteran’s / Military Salute Day:  
- The U.S. Marines Corps’ annual Toys for Tots collection (cash only for football) will be outside of Memorial Stadium during pregame festivities. Toys for Tots is sponsored by the University of Nebraska Semper Fi Society.

-Eight Honorary Sentinels representing each military branch of service and each combat will be introduced during pregame ceremonies and will stand at attention as the color guards pass. The 2018 Honorary Sentinels include: Cpl Donald E. Criswell, U.S. Army, Chappell, Neb., WWII; Lt. (jg) Warren Hutchinson, U.S. Navy, Albion, Neb., WWII; Cpl Charles Munson, U.S. Army, Lincoln, Neb., Korea; SSgt Curtis Orr, U.S. Army, Hoskins, Neb., Viet Nam; MSgt Jon Camplin, U.S. Air Force, Stanton, Neb., Desert Shield/Storm; Cpl Brad Balak, U.S. Marine Corps, Omaha, Neb. OIF/OEF; SSgt Georgia Allen, Nebraska Army National Guard, Omaha, Neb., Global War on Terror; Cpl Jacob Post, U.S. Marine Corps, President Student Vet Organization, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Scottsbluff, Neb.

-During Nebraska’s pre-game performance, the Cornhusker Marching Band will play the traditional Armed Forces Medley, featuring military songs representing each branch of service.

-The National Anthem will feature a expanded color guard representing each branch of service and most conflicts and members of the UNL Pershing Rifles will also take the field for the anthem.

-During the National Anthem, HuskerVision screens will scroll names of those with Nebraska ties, who lost their lives serving our country since 9-11. Weather permitting, there will also be a flyover during the anthem.

-Fans in attendance who are serving or have served in American's Armed Forces will be asked to stand and be recognized.

-At the first quarter break, University of Nebraska President Hank Bounds, UNL Chancellor Ronnie Green and Nebraska Athletic Director Bill Moos will present an authentic alternative football jersey to Major General Rick Evans, Assistant to the Commander, US Strategic Command, as a thank you for USSTRATCOM’s partnership with the University of Nebraska.

-During select breaks in the game, videos featuring active military will be played and shown on the HuskerVision screens.

Additional Features for Fans to Enjoy as Part of 100 Year Anniversary of the Armistice Day for World War I:
This year, the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month marks the one hundredth anniversary of the signing of the World War I Armistice. In addition to traditional salutes to Veteran’s, in honor of the 100th year since the Armistice was signed signifying the end of World War I on November 11, 1918, other special activities will take place:

-The President, Chancellor, Foundation and Athletics will have a special pregame tailgate in honor of all Veterans.

-Freshman Damian Jackson, a Navy Seal and an a defensive lineman for the Husker football team, will proudly carry the American Flag out of the Tunnel Walk to lead the team onto the field.

-The Huskers will wear new adidas Primeknit A1 ‘Memorial Tribute’ alternative uniforms to pay tribute to the 100th anniversary of the end of WWI while also celebrating memorial Stadium, named to honor Nebraskans who served in our nation’s wars. Similar to the 1923 Huskers’ jerseys, the 2018 Nebraska ‘Memorial Tribute’ uniform features a throwback tonal, paneled front. The buff-colored pant is designed to resemble the first façade of Memorial Stadium, which was also a characteristic of the 1923 uniform. Additionally, the new alternate uniform showcases key aspects of the 85,000-seat arena, including the numbers and fonts which were inspired by the original clock in Memorial Stadium.

--A special color guard who are members of the University of Nebraska’s Naval ROTC Detachment wearing actual World War I Era Uniforms, including one ROTC Cadet uniform from that era. This special color guard will carry a 48-star flag donated by Shawn Concannon, which is the flag carried during WWI. Other flags donated by Concannon, Director and Creator of 48 Stars, will be displayed throughout the concourse.

-POW/MIA Honorary Chair Sentinel: As a tribute to the World War I Armistice Day, Memorial Stadium has designated an empty seat as a POW/MIA chair. Each game this season and in the future, a veteran will sit next to the unoccupied seat. Saturday’s Honorary POW/MIA Chair Sentinels are Randy and Gay Chinn and Becky Coulter and Todd Chinn, son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren of Army Master Sergeant Leonard Chinn, who was taken prisoner in Korea, and died while in captivity. His family spent nearly 70 years trying to learn his fate. Finally, through DNA technology, Master Sergeant Chinn’s remains were identified and returned last July. In gratitude for their tireless effort to bring this American hero home, we are honored to welcome the Chinn family to Memorial Stadium.

-At halftime the HuskerVision screens will show a feature video in honor of Nebraskans in WWI, produced by Holden Armstrong, Nebraska Department of Veteran Affairs. The new World War I Plaques installed at Gate 20 in East Memorial Stadium will be revealed to honor all Nebraskans who served in World War I. The plaques were produced by Omaha artist Joe Putjenter. Putjenter also constructed the Bob Devaney Statue in East Stadium.

-Also at halftime, there will be a moment of silence during the Cornhusker Marching Band performance for Tyler Butterfield, a trumpet player,who died in a car accident on October 27, 2018. A native of Norfolk, Nebraska, Tyler was a junior studying accounting in the College of Business.

Sunday, Nov. 11 – 100th Anniversary of Armistice Day Display Dedication:
-On Sunday, Board of Regents Chairman Lt Col Rob Schafer, President Hank Bounds, UNL Chancellor Ronnie Green, Major General Daryl Bohac, the Adjutant General of Nebraska and Nebraska Athletics Director Bill Moos will host Veteran’s at a breakfast in East Memorial Stadium at 7:45 a.m. Captain Doug Carlson, Government Relations Officer for the Nebraska National Guard, will serve as emcee. A program will follow when two World War I Plaques will be dedicated.

-The UNL Pershing Rifles Drill Team will perform at the dedication. This drill team was formed in 1894, by then, General of the Armies, General John J. Pershing, who served as University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s professor of military and Naval science from 1891 to 1895. Pershing Rifles is a fraternal military organization that follows Pershing’s goals of instilling leadership, integrity, discipline, grit and military values.

-At the dedication, the Nebraska National Guard’s 43rd Army Band will also perform and Chancellor Green will unveil a design for a new Veteran’s tribute on campus. This free event is open to the public. Parking is available in Lot 12, please enter Gate 19 beginning at 7:30 a.m.