Clemson to Honor the Military on Saturday, September 6, 2008

Sept. 1, 2008

CLEMSON, SC – On Saturday, September 6, the Clemson University Athletic Department will recognize and honor our fallen soldiers, veterans and current military personnel serving in our armed forces during pre-game and halftime ceremonies of the Clemson vs. The Citadel football game scheduled to kickoff at 3:30 p.m.

Bowman Field will have various military displays on site beginning at 9:00 a.m.:

Satellite Signal Equipment Air Defense (Avenger) Equipment National Guard Mobile Recruiting Office Air National Guard Recruiting Trailer with walk-through interactive displays Raptor SUV Drivable F-16 Marine Hummers ROTC Gator WWII jeep Vintage Equipment Sentinel Radar System Beam Hit Trailer Hazmat Team Rock Climbing Wall

Pre-game concert and parade – All fans, veterans and current soldiers from both schools are invited to pre-game concert by The Citadel and Clemson bands at 1:30 p.m. in the amphitheater located in front of Cooper Library. Veterans and current soldiers can participate in a parade to the stadium through the Clemson campus. Line-up is at 2:15 p.m. outside the Holmes and Mc Cabe dormitories located on Fort Hill Street. The parade will begin at 2:30 p.m. and end at Gate 9 of Memorial Stadium.

Pershing Rifles Color Guard Riderless Horse The Citadel Bag Pipes and Band The Citadel cadets The Citadel banner The Citadel veterans Senior Platoon banner Clemson Corps banner CU veterans CU ROTC Cheerleaders and mascot Tiger Band

Pre-game festivities – Dotting the “i” will be members of the Clemson University Company C-4 Pershing Rifles who last Spring won their 5th consecutive national drill team championship.

The presentation of colors on the field will be by the Clemson University’s Company C-4 Pershing Rifles as Tiger Platoon raises the American Flag on the East Endzone flagpole during the National Anthem.

Four F-16’s from the South Carolina Air National Guard will fly-over Memorial Stadium at the conclusion of the National Anthem.

The South Carolina National Guard designed the coin that will be used in the pre-game coin toss. The commemorative coin has 62 stars in honor of the 62 soldiers killed from the State of South Carolina in the war in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Halftime festivities – All veterans and current soldiers from both schools are invited to participate in halftime ceremonies by going to the field level in the West Endzone with 5 minutes remaining in the second quarter by using the steps in Sections W & X. Military personnel sitting in the upper deck must get their hand stamp prior to exiting the upper deck so they can proceed to the lower level for the ceremony. They should re-enter the stadium at either Gate 9 or 13 in the West end of Memorial Stadium.

Halftime ceremonies will feature; the parade of veterans and current soldiers onto the field, the introduction of families of fallen soldiers from the State of South Carolina, the placement of a wreath, helmet and boots to signify the fallen soldier, a 21 gun salute by the Clemson University Company-C-4 Pershing Rifles, the playing of “Taps” and Armed Forces Service medley by The Citadel and Clemson bands.

Commemorative T-shirt on sale – The Citadel and Clemson fans have the opportunity to take part in the largest military salute in the country by purchasing this year’s Military Appreciation Day t-shirt. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the shirt will go toward the ROTC programs at The Citadel and Clemson University/

The t-shirt design (see photo on right) is available in both The Citadel and Clemson colors. The 62 stars represent those soldiers from the State of South Carolina who made the ultimate sacrifice in Afghanistan and Iraq.

In Clemson & Greenville, SC: Clemson University’s Official Athletic Department Website – ClemsonTigers.com Tiger Town Graphics – www.tigertowngraphics.com, (864) 654-1365 The Athletic Department – www.tigersports.com, (864) 654-1719 Tiger Sports Shop – www.tigersports.com, (864) 654-1719 Student Book Store and Supply – www.clemsonbooks.net, (864) 654-2005 Mr. Knickerbocker’s – www.mrknickerbocker.com, (864) 654-4203 Judge Keller’s Store – Phone orders accepted at (864) 654-6446 SC Place – (864) 288-1077

In Charleston, SC: The Citadel Gift Shop – (843) 953-5110 Palmetto Moon – www.palmettomoononline.com, (843) 553-0552

Helmets – The logo on the front of the orange Military Appreciation Day t-shirts will also be placed on the back of the Clemson helmets for the Citadel game.

“Scroll Of Honor” Posters – 5,000 – 11″x11″ “Scroll of Honor” posters will be distributed to the Clemson dormitory rooms the week of The Citadel game. The posters list the 472 Clemson men who have made the ultimate sacrifice during all wars and in Peacetime operations. The lone Star on the front of the poster is in honor of these Clemson heroes.

During the early days of World War I, a Blue Star was used to represent each person, man or woman in the Military Service of the United States. As the war progressed and men were killed in combat, others wounded and died of their wounds or disease, there came about the accepted usage of the Gold Star.

The Gold Star was substituted and superimposed upon the blue Star in such a manner as to entirely cover it. The idea of the Gold Star was that the honor and glory accorded the person for his supreme sacrifice in offering for his country, the last full measure of devotion and pride of the family in this sacrifice, rather than the sense of personal loss which would be represented by the mourning symbols.

“Duty, Honor, Country” Banners: Street banners with the phrase of “Duty, Honor, Country” be hung in downtown Clemson and around the Clemson campus.

Tickets: Tickets for The Citadel – Clemson football game can be purchased on-line at ClemsonTigers.com, by phone at 1-800-CLEMSON or in person at the Clemson Athletic Ticket Office from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.