Military Appreciation Night
Each year, the Detroit Red Wings host Military Appreciation Night to honor military members on or around Veterans Day. This season's Military Appreciation Night took place on Veterans Day (Nov. 11) when the Wings faced off against the Edmonton Oilers.
The date for the 2012 Military Appreciation Night game will be released later this summer so check back in August. Fans attending our 2012 Military Appreciation Night are encouraged to bring:
- Wet wipes (cleaning wipes like Clorox and individual hand wipes like Wet Ones)
- Hygiene items: travel size shampoo and conditioner, bar soap, deoderant, razors, shaving cream (not in an aerosol can), toothbrush and toothpaste, etc.
- Socks and t-shirts (must be dark brown or khaki)
- Holiday DVDs and items (i.e. Santa hats and Christmas stockings)
- Laundry detergent and fabric softeners (unscented)
- Chapstick and sunscreen
- Gum
- Powdered drink mixes and individual packets
- Magazines, books and CDs
- Playing cards
- Disposable cameras
- Hard candy
On Veterans Day 2012, volunteers from Blue Star Mothers of America were on hand to collect care package items and monetary donations at each entrance of Joe Louis Arena prior to the game. For each item or $5 donated to Blue Star Mothers of America, fans were entered to win an autographed Justin Abdelkader jersey. All the items collected at the game were included in care packages that were sent out a week later to soldiers serving overseas. Volunteers collected 2,440 care package items, which was a 63% increase from 2010, and $2,434 in monetary donations for the cause.
The Wings held a merchandise fire sale with proceeds benefitting the Operation USO Care Package Program. Thanks to the sales of autographed memorabilia of players no longer with the team, the Wings raised $5,589 allowing the Wings to cover the cost of 223 care packages that the USO will send overseas.
In addition, the Detroit Red Wings Foundation's 50/50 Raffle Program brought in $2,359 for Help for Our Disabled Troops, bringing the grand total of money raised for the three military non-profits to $11,222. For a complete recap of the 2011 Military Appreciation Night, please click here.
Military members in attendance were honored during the game, including guests in the Quicken Loans Budd Lynch Veterans Suite. Earlier in the day, 50 military veterans and active members on leave plus their guests attended the Red Wings morning skate.
