The Green Bay Gamblers are proud to announce they raised $40,000 for the DAV Transportation Program. Money donated comes from 100% of proceeds from the team’s military helmet/jersey auction, ticket sales and sponsorship tied to the team’s 7th Annual Military Appreciation Night that took place this past Saturday (12/8) at the Resch Center. Since 2013, game has raised $158,000 for the local chapter of Disabled American Veterans.
“Military Appreciation Night is an event we take great pride in,” says Gamblers Team President Brendan Bruss. “The men and women of the armed forces are heroes, and this is our way of honoring all that they have done and sacrificed. It also provides us the opportunity to raise needed funds for veterans in our area.”
Since 2013 the presenting sponsor of Military Appreciation Night has been the Animal Referral Center. Supporting partners of the game include:
Allegra Printing, Aurora BayCare, Belmark, Bruss Family, Buffalo Wild Wings, C.A. Lawton Company, Capital Equipment, C and C Custom Builders, Comfort Control, Conger Industries, CP Leasing, Culver’s, Diamonds and Gold, Disabled American Veterans, Jeff and Ginny Dowd, Exhaust Pro’s, Fox Communities Credit Union, Green Bay Packers, Scott Jewitt Family, Jones Sign, Kaminski Dental, Kia Dorsch Ford, Menominee Casino Resort, Mid State Supply, Pat Mikesch Family, Murphy’s Irish Pub, O’Neil Law Offices, Packerland Heating & Cooling, Dan Parsley, Pearly Gates, PMI Board of Directors, Pure Water Technology, Pizza Ranch, Replay Sports Bar, Royal Custom Plastics, S & L Motors, Saranac Glove, Schneider National, Screamin Head Buzz, Julie Sigmund in memory of Patrick Sigmund, SportClips, Tom Vandersteen, Van Rite and Father Vietnam Veterans of America, Wachter Family, Wild West Studios, Mitch Woesner, WPS Health Insurance, Young Smiles Pediatric Dental, The Fan, WAPL, WFRV, WIXX, WZOR and Y-100
Prior to the game a 20 x 30-foot American flag was presented at center ice. Holding the flag were members of the Animal Referral Center and Got Your Six K-9’s; program dedicated to helping wounded combat veterans through the assistance of professionally trained service dogs to help them cope with PTSD and other service related injuries. The Disabled American Veterans Chapter 3 Military Honor Guard presented the colors, Kingsford High School band played God Bless America, followed by retired Air Force Sergeant Mike Goodreau performing the National Anthem.
Dropping the ceremonial first pucks were four Purple Heart recipients:
Sergeant Roy Rogers, United States Marines, Vietnam
Sergeant George Greendeer, United States Army, Vietnam
Sergeant Michael Hoks, United States Navy, Vietnam
Captain Allen Johnson, United States Air Force, Vietnam
In the first intermission 100 local men and women took the oath of enlistment at center ice. Major General Daniel Ammerman, Commander of the United States Transportation Command out of Scott Air Force Base presided over the oath of enlistment.
Check will be presented to the DAV. Date, time and location of check presentation will be provided at a future time.
