Kearney, Neb. – In honor of those men and women who have served and are currently serving our nation in the Armed Forces and public works, Nebraska-Kearney Athletics will host "Military and Service Appreciation Day" on Saturday, November 1st as the Loper football team takes on rival Fort Hays State.
 
Game time is set for 12:00 p.m.

Any Veterans, active duty men and women, city or state service employees will receive (2) FREE General Admission tickets to the game. Those veterans and family memebrs needing handicapped accommodations wil lalso have exclusive full access to the 3rd floor handicapped observation deck. 

There will be a variety of activities for fans of all ages to enjoy including:

• FREE pregame tailgate for Veterans & family members (Open 2 hours prior to kick off in Loperville tailgating area)
• Public tour of "Remembering Our Fallen" Memorial (sponsored by Cabela's)
• Interactive tour of official military vehicles
• Inflatables games and obstacle course (sponsored by the National Guard)
• ROTC & members of the Young Americans for Freedom will present a large American flag on the field for the National Anthem
• Introduction of Gold Star Families
• Special Recognition of supporters of the Wounded Warrior Project
• Pride of the Plains performance of an Armed Forces "Branch Salute"
• Opportunity to send veterans a thank you postcard. The "Remembering Our Fallen" Memorial was created to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. The tribute tours the state of Nebraska and is a humbling display that tells the story of individuals who have fought for freedom abroad. Thanks to the sponsorship provided by Cabela's, admission is free.

Quotes
"There is nothing more worthwhile than honoring our Veterans and those on active duty that have given so much for us to enjoy the freedom we have today. I am very proud of our UNK students for recognizing this fact and honoring our military."
 
"Connecting the past, present, and future is vital to the preservation of our society. Thank you UNK for recognizing the contributions of our military and expressing appreciation for all they do."
-Stan Clouse (Mayor, City of Kearney)
 
"Military Appreciation Day at the University of Nebraska Kearney provides all of us in the campus community an opportunity to connect with and honor the men and women who stand in service of our country. We owe each of them a tremendous debt of gratitude. From ROTC to the National Guard to every branch of the military, all are heroes in the truest sense of the word."
-Doug Kristensen  (Chancellor, University of Nebraska Kearney)
 
"When most veterans answered the call to arms, they didn't do it for the attention. They did it because it was the right thing, the patriotic thing, to do. A simple heartfelt thank you is more than enough and more than they expect. But this day, this celebration at UNK, is an honor that is appreciated and one that will be remembered by the veterans present today."
 
"Kearney and the surrounding communities are great supporters of our veterans and, with UNK being such a big part of the community; it only stands to reason that they would hold an event such as this. Thank you, UNK"
-Dick Pierce  (Veterans First)