Photo By Staff Sgt. Melissa Wood | After the Nashville Predators game against the Los Angeles Kings March 15, Predators...... read more read more
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NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The crowd rose to its feet, the cheers were deafening and the energy in the air was electric, but it wasn’t the Nashville Predators who received the standing ovation. It was seven cadets from the United States Military Academy at West Point.
Whether it’s a soldier on leave from an overseas tour, a retired veteran, or a sailor who is just embarking on a new career and adventure, the Predators honor a member of the military at each and every home game.
“It was really cool to see that, for everyone to stand up and support us,” said Cadet Candace Brown after being honored during Tuesday night’s Military Salute. “It felt really good.”
The West Point cadets, who chose to spend their spring break performing humanitarian missions with a local charity, were spotlighted as the honored guests of Tuesday night’s game against the Los Angeles Kings.
“We’re helping out with Samaritan’s Purse, doing some
re-construction from all the flooding last year that hit Nashville,” Cadet Will Web said. “We’re here to serve, but we’re here to watch the game tonight, and we’re really excited.”
Members of the military blended into the crowd like camouflage blends into the wilderness. The only thing that set them apart from the rest of the fans were the stories they eagerly shared with those around them.
Retired Air Force Maj. Jerold W. Wiley told of 48-hour shifts in a Cold War antimissile control center as he shared stories with a group of young soldiers before the game. He said he’s still proud of what the military does today and especially that they are recognized here and elsewhere in the community.
“The Predators are big on saluting the military,” Wiley said. “So are most of the folks here in Nashville. If you take a look around the city, it’s something we all take pride in.”
Retired Marine Gunnery Sgt. Michael Ackerman said he has experienced that pride first hand. As one of the 12 original wounded warriors, he has worked with the Predators to coordinate events for the Wounded Warrior Fund, Marine Toys for Tots and numerous other charitable efforts to benefit veterans within the community.
“Here in Nashville, people go ballistic over the military,” Ackerman said before the game Tuesday. “You really kind of get the whole smorgasbord here. It’s awesome.”
Despite being severely wounded in combat, Ackerman said he even rappelled from the arena rafters during one of the Predators’ Military Monday events last year.
“That’s our motto,” he joked, “Any climb, any place.”
A special event that began three season ago, Military Monday allows veterans, military personnel, and their families to get the best seats in the house for only $20, even if those tickets could normally cost upwards of $280.
To take advantage of this promotion, military personnel simply show their ID cards at the Predators box office or can call ahead to plan a group event.
This season, Military Monday is no longer confined to the first day of the week.
“Starting this year, we expanded it to include every game,” said Christian Parker, Predators executive vice president and chief sales officer.
Parker said one of the most rewarding aspects of the program was highlighting stories of the service members in attendance during the game.
“Active duty, reservists, injured or just home on leave; there are a number of compelling stories for us,” Parker explained.
Chris Harrington, Predators group sales account executive, said this year they gave military personnel the opportunity to purchase presale tickets to any game for only $20 before the season ever began.
“We ran that special for about two months prior to the season, and we had a terrific turnout. We sold about 195 separate games to individual soldiers,” Harrington said.
Sgt. Brandon Boehms, a seasoned veteran of Military Monday and an infantryman with 2/506, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division from Fort Campbell, Ky., attended Tuesday’s game while home on leave in the middle of his yearlong tour in Afghanistan.
With a beer in his hand, a baseball cap on his head and a big smile on his face, Boehms raved about his seats up front, near the action.
Boehms said when he called up the Predators to see if they could do anything for him and his buddies while they were in town, the Preds happily accommodated them with half-price tickets, even though the game they wanted to attend wasn’t a part of any special promotion.
“We try to get as many soldiers out as possible, to keep their minds positive and show them a good time,” Harrington said. “Our fans and season ticket holders love to see them come out here, and we thank them every opportunity we get.”
Boehms said he was already looking forward to his next game when he makes it back from Afghanistan.
“What’s not to love,” he said. “You get right on the glass for twenty bucks.”
The Predators don’t limit their gratitude to just saying “Thank you.” In addition to Military Monday and half-price ticket specials, they bring soldiers and their families to games at no cost through their Tickets for Troops program.
“Over 3,500 tickets were donated this year by our season ticket holders,” Harrington said. “The ownership matched that donation, and over 6,000 free tickets were distributed to the troops.”
Harrington said that through the Tickets for Troops initiative, the Predators were able to raise over $30,000, not only through the
generosity of their season tickets holders, but local companies who wanted to contribute as well.
“With that money, we buy tickets and donate them to military bases in the area,” Harrington said. “We raised a lot of money through the program, and a lot of that money went back to the military through donations.”
Citizen or soldier, no one at Tuesday’s game seemed shy about expressing their American pride and appreciation for those who serve. Even after the puck stopped, the players took the time to express their gratitude to military members.
“I want you to know how much we appreciate all that you guys do and the sacrifices that you make,” Predators assistant captain and defenseman Ryan Suter said after the game. “We can’t say thank you enough.”
Sweaty, exhausted and worn down after the game, Predators left winger Blake Geoffrion stayed behind to speak to military members, even after the locker room had emptied.
“We are just so thankful,” Geoffrion said. “We wouldn’t be able to play hockey and do the things that we love if it weren’t for you guys out there fighting for us every day.”
The Predators’ next Military Monday event is scheduled for their March 22 game against the Edmonton Oilers.
For more information on Military Mondays, Tickets for Troops and other promotions, contact the Predators at (615) 770-7814 or www.nashvillepredators.com
Military personnel can also contact the Fort Campbell MWR Leisure Travel Office at (270) 798-7436 or www.fortcampbellmwr.com/trades-services/ITR. For the most up-to-date information on tickets and promotions, check www.facebook.com/FortCampbellMWR
| Date Taken: | 03.15.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 03.20.2011 14:01 |
| Story ID: | 67418 |
| Location: | NASHVILLE, TN, US |
| Web Views: | 368 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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