The Green Bay Packers will pay tribute to veterans at Sunday night's Packers-Bears matchup, the NFL's national Salute to Servicegame, presented by Rexnord. In conjunction with the NFL-wide Salute to Service recognition of Veteran's Day, many activities both on and off the field will be dedicated to showing appreciation to the U.S. Military.
Before the game, fans are encouraged to arrive early to participate in an in-stadium card stunt along with USAAand the Packers to pay tribute to veterans and members of the military. Game attendees will find two-sided cards taped to their seats with directions indicating when to hold it up and which side to have facing up. Fans will also be prompted by on-field leaders at the bottom of each section to hold up and flip over the cards in order to turn Lambeau Field into a ring of stars and stripes. The cards will display the messages "thank you military, thank you veterans" and "land of the free, home of the brave" during the national anthem.
USAA will also be giving away USAA/NFL Salute to Service scarves to current military and veterans at the game who present a valid military ID. USAA will be located on the lower concourse, near Section 132 from 5:30pm to kickoff. Scarves are available while supplies last.
On the field, each player's helmet will feature a decal representing each branch of the military and players will use newly designed gloves, towels, hats, hoodies and game balls with the NFL Salute to Service camo-ribbon decal. The stadium will also feature camouflage Salute to Service goal post wraps, banners and pylon decals. These game-used items will be auctioned off at NFLauction.nfl.com, with proceeds benefitting the league's core military non-profit partners.
Prior to game, the Packers and Verizon Wireless will team up to host a wireless phone drive in support of domestic violence survivors. The drive is a part of Verizon's HopeLine® program, which collects no-longer-used cell phones and distributes them to survivors of domestic violence. All fans attending the game are invited to donate their no-longer-used cell phones and accessories from any wireless provider.
Volunteers will be accepting donated phones and equipment at each Lambeau Field entrance from 5:30 until game time at 7:30 p.m. All phones collected will provide direct support for survivors of domestic violence in Wisconsin.
In the Lambeau Field Atrium, fans will have the opportunity to sign and send a holiday card to a service member with the help of the American Red Cross as a part of their annual Holiday Mail for Heroesprogram. A card signing station will be open from 3:30 p.m. until halftime in the Atrium. Red Cross volunteers will deliver the cards throughout the holiday season to service members, veterans and their families across the world and around the country.
Two alumni are scheduled to make appearances throughout the weekend at various locations. Robert Brooks and Derrick Mayes will be taking part in fan activities at the Packers Pro Shop, Tundra Tailgate Zone and Legends Club leading up to kickoff.
Specialist Heather Mendoza from the 484th Army Band will perform the national anthem. During the national anthem, 70 U.S. Veteranswho are University of Wisconsin-Green Bay alumniwill be holding the flag on the field. In addition, the Packers and WPS Health Insurance will be recognizing U.S. Marine Sergeant Michael Kimmerling through Operation Fan Mail on-field prior to the national anthem.
Military Appreciation flags complements of Rexnord will be given out to fans as they enter the stadium.
Also taking place Sunday*is the premier gameday tailgate party in theTundra Tailgate Zone* (TTZ) in the Lambeau Field parking lot. For a full list of gameday information, please visit packers.com/gameday/gameday-information.html.
The Lambeau Field parking lot will open at 3:30 p.m., along with the Tundra Tailgate Zone. The Lambeau Field Atrium and guest relations desk will open at 3:30 p.m. for ticketed guests only. Gates to the seating areas will open at 5:30 p.m.
