The Hillsdale College football team will honor military veterans and active duty members at its Military Appreciation Day game Oct. 25 Oct. 25.
The Chargers will host military veterans Friday night at their team dinner and recognize them at their home game against the Lake Erie College Storm at 2:30 p.m.
“Come cheer us on, have a good time, and all the while support veteran and active duty military members,” said assistant football coach Rob Rardin.
The team dinner is a special opportunity for Hillsdale College football players to get to know military veterans, according to Rardin.
“It is so great for our players to meet veterans and active duty members, people who took time out of their lives to serve our country,” Rardin said.
Last year, more than 60 active duty and military veterans attended, up from about ten in 2018, up from about ten in 2018, according to Rardin.
“Our players give veterans hope for the future,” Rardin said. “It is a pretty good tribute to Hillsdale college and the student body.”
Over the past 20 years, approximately 20 football alumni have gone on to serve in the military after their time at Hillsdale College, according to Rardin.
“We are very proud of all the athletes here at Hillsdale College who graduate and join the military,” Rardin said.
The festivities will continue into Saturday with a pregame tailgate for active duty and military veterans. Military veterans will also be honored before the game with a pregame ceremony.
Last year, Maj. Peter L. Jennings, a Marine Corps infantry officer for 13 years and current associate professor of leadership studies, served as the honorary captain for the game. This year, Marine Corps Vietnam correspondent and Hillsdale College football color commentator of more than 25 years Dan Bisher will serve as the honorary captain.
“It was an honor,” Jennings said. “It is always important to remind ourselves that our freedom was bought for us at a great price and pay our respects to those who served in our armed forces.”
This year’s military appreciation game also is an opportunity for the entire Hillsdale community to participate in a Toys for Tots toy drive. Anyone who brings a new, unwrapped toy to the game will get in for free, according to Rardin.
All veteran and active duty military members are encouraged to attend the dinner, tailgate, and game, and are asked to RSVP to rrardin@hillsdale.edu if they plan to attend.
