Sunday's game between the Jaguars and Cincinnati Bengals at ALLTEL Stadium will celebrate Veteran's Day in honoring the nation's Armed Forces and veterans.
In the pregame festivities, Rear Admiral Jan C. Gaudio of the U.S. Navy Commander Navy Region Southeast, will preside over one of largest re-enlistment's in Jacksonville history.
The pregame will also include a video tribute and on-field recognition of the Fire Department of New York. Thirteen FDNY firefighters and their families will attend the game.
The National Anthem will be performed by MU1 Chris Kolb, MU2 Todd Smeltzer, MU2 Scott Verville and MU3 April Boucher of the contemporary music ensemble PRIDE, which is a component of Navy Band Southeast, Lt. Tony Miller, Bandmaster, which is stationed at Naval Air Station Jacksonville.
The colors will be presented by the U.S. Joint Military Color Guard, as well as members of the China-Burma-India Veterans' Association. A 30x60-foot U.S. flag will be held by sailors from NAS Jax.
The National Anthem will conclude with a flyover of two U.S. Navy F-14s from the VF 101 "Grim Reapers" stationed at Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia Beach, Va., along with a balloon release.
The halftime entertainment will be the seventh annual performance of the Jr. ROAR Cheerleading Training Clinic, with a special tribute to America and a patriotic theme. Brooke Peoples, a 14 year old from Dallas, will sing "God Bless America" during the performance.
Fans are encouraged to donate non-perishable food items to help fight hunger on the First Coast prior to entering the stadium. The seventh annual Jaguars Food Drive has been underway since October 29. Players' and coaches' wives will be at each of the stadium's four main gates and both Touchdown Clubs accepting food donations starting at 11:30 a.m. The Roar will also accept donations at the stadium's Touchdown Club West entrance. Fans donating five or more cans will receive a commemorative poster. Last year's drive brought in more than 28,000 pounds of food - enough for approximately 18,707 meals. The Lutheran Social Services Second Harvest Food Bank, northeast Florida's regional food bank, will again serve as the central resource for receiving and distributing the donated food to 17 area counties.
Combat vehicles from the Florida National Guard will be parked near each of the stadium's gates for fans to see.
In addition, fans attending Sunday's game are reminded that the season restrictions will apply regarding prohibited items, such as large bags, backpacks, unbrellas, strollers, and camera and binocular cases.
