Today’s annual wreath-laying ceremony, the hospital’s Veteran’s Day Celebration, and Saturday’s UAB Football’s Salute to the Troops highlight a busy Veteran’s Day weekend on the campus of the University of Alabama at Birmingham and at Legion Field.
Veteran’s Services and Student Affairs will honor our nation’s veterans today at 1 p.m. on the Campus Green with the wreath-laying ceremony. UAB’s ROTC cadets will lead the posting of the colors and the Army Band and retired Bessemer Chief of Police Nathaniel Rutledge will perform the National Anthem. Lt. Col. Karl Reuter, professor of military science at UAB, will be this year’s guest speaker.
The UAB Hospital Veteran’s Day Celebration event is Monday, Nov. 12, from 12-12:30 p.m. in the 2nd floor atrium of the North Pavilion. An invocation will be presented, and guest speakers will share stories from their time in service.
UAB Football will honor the service of the men and women who protect our freedom at 6:30 p.m. Saturday night at Legion Field against rival Southern Mississippi in the annual Salute to Service game. The Blazers will wear a special helmet with a red, white and blue dragon. It’s also the final home game of the regular season for the Blazers, who own the nation’s fourth longest home winning streak at 11 straight.
UAB is on the cusp of a Top 25 national ranking and can secure its first berth in the Conference USA championship game with a victory against the Golden Eagles. Fans are encouraged to dress in all white for a “White Out” event.
Prior to the game, UAB will honor its 35 graduating seniors. This class has helped the Blazers to a 16-6 overall record since the return and a mark of 12-2 in C-USA play. The pregame festivities will start at approximately 6:10 p.m.
Fans can purchase tickets to the game online. UAB Athletics is also running a Tickets for Troops promotion in which a $10 ticket can be purchased and donated to an active or retired member of the service. For more information on Tickets for Troops, call 205-934-8715.