Tampa Bay Lightning To Host Military Appreciation Night

TAMPA, FL – The Tampa Bay Lightning will honor military members and veterans the day before Veterans Day.

The Lightning will host its annual Military Appreciation night on Thursday, Nov. 10 at Amalie Arena when the team takes on the New York Islanders at 7:30 p.m.

Through the Lightning’s Seats for Service program, the team’s fans and partners donate 2,500 tickets for service members and their family for the Islanders game and future games. The Lightning will also wear camouflage jerseys during pregame warm-ups, which will be auctioned off later to benefit military charities through the Lightning Foundation. Replica camp jerseys will also be available for purchase at Tampa Bay Sports inside Amalie Arena.

The team will honor military members throughout the game, including an honorary ceremonial puck drop before the game with special guests, including World War II and Korean War Veteran Capt. Jack B. Shaffer, USMC. Fan favorite Tech. Sgt. Sony Bryson, USAF (ret.), will perform the National Anthem, joined by Vietnam veteran Thomas O’Neill.

O’Neill served in the Air Force, Army and Navy, as well as the assistant to the secretary of the Navy for 20 years. He also served as the executive assistant to the President of the United States for the last nine inaugurations.

USCENTCOM Join Service Color Guard will present the colors, while USSOCOM will present a large United States flag on the ice before the game. A Marines enlistment ceremony will be conducted on the ice during the first intermission, with a SOCOM rappel team capping the ceremony.

The Lightning Community Hero for the game, Blayne Smith, also is affiliated with military causes. The Lightning and Chase will also present their 11th mortgage-free home given to an injured veteran through Operation Home Front. Thursday’s honoree is USAF Master Sgt. Joseph Mulgado.

The Lightning, along with the Duncan Duo of RE/MAX Dynamic and the Red Cross, will also give fans a chance to send holiday cards to troops overseas with the Cards for Heroes initiative. Fans are encouraged to visit tables located throughout the concourses at Amalie Arena to send greetings and notes of appreciation to service men and women abroad. The program kicks off Thursday and will run for the remainder of November behind Section 118.

Military vehicles will also be on display on Ford Thunder Alley outside the arena.

Image via Patch