NHL Team Donates $100,000 to Help TAPS Families

By Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr.
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON  – The National Hockey League’s Washington Capitals highlighted the club’s ninth annual military appreciation night yesterday with a six-figure donation to the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors program.

The TAPS program, founded in 1994, provides support for anyone who has suffered the loss of a military loved one, regardless of their relationship to the deceased or the circumstance of the death.

“It’s very important to have this kind of level of support for our families and members in uniform,” Navy Adm. James A. Winnefeld Jr., vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told Capitals co-owner Raul Fernandez. “I want to thank you and the Caps team for your continued support of our men and women in uniform. … We know that your support extends far beyond this. We’ve just heard about the very, very generous donation to TAPS. TAPS is a terrific program.”

In pregame remarks, Fernandez announced a donation of $105,742.76 to TAPS.

“The donation tonight is just absolutely fantastic for those family members,” Winnefeld said. “It just reflects the tremendous generosity of the Caps organization and the fact that they recognize that there is goodness being a responsible member of the community, as well as a hell of a lot of fun as a sports franchise.”

Rene C. Bardorf, deputy assistant secretary of defense for community and public outreach, attended military appreciation night and praised the Capitals organization.

“Your support of military families is just to be applauded,” she said. “Your salute to military is very fitting for this evening, but as you have mentioned, it doesn’t begin and end here tonight. What’s wonderful about the Caps program is that it’s a fully integrated program that doesn’t just involve giving tickets to service members to come and enjoy a game. It goes far deeper than that.”

For example, she said, the organization uses its fan base to raise public awareness for service members and their families as they reintegrate back into communities.

Bardorf joined the vice chairman in expressing her appreciation for the large donation to TAPS.

“We need this collaborative effort between government and private sector in order to support our military families and ensure they have successful futures for the rest of their lives,” she said.

The vice chairman noted that troops around the world who are NHL fans likely were watching the game with great appreciation.

“You have about 200,000 military members deployed tonight overseas [and] all across the world,” Winnefeld said. “Many of them are Capitals fans, and some of them might well be tuning into this game tonight.”

Washington Capitals Host Military Appreciation Night

By Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class William Selby

Emerging Media, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, March 4, 2011 – The Washington Capitals NHL team and their majority owner, Ted Leonsis, hosted not only the St. Louis Blues at the Verizon Center here last night, but also service members and their families for the 8th Annual Military Appreciation Night.

“Military Night is one of my favorite nights,” Leonsis said. “We’ve done our best to support every branch of the military.”

Leonsis kicked off the event with a reception for active duty military members and veterans. Other guests included Douglas B. Wilson, assistant secretary of defense for public affairs; Marine Corps Gen. James E. Cartwright, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; and Army Chief of Staff Gen. George W. Casey Jr., among others.

Wilson hosted several military children as part of the “Me and a Friend” program, which he created with the help of the USO last year. The program offers donated tickets to sporting events, shows, and other events to military children and a friend.

“There are ways to give back. There are ways to extend a hand of friendship and a sense of belonging to those who are serving our nation in uniform,” Wilson said. “Whether it’s inviting the son or daughter of someone whose mother or father is deployed overseas to a come to a barbecue, or go to movie, or attend a dance recital with your family, it’s important to recognize the challenges that kids in military families sometimes face, and the need to want to feel normal and the need to want to belong.”

Cartwright also expressed his appreciation to service members, their families, and the families of the fallen. Those families, he said, have made a tremendous sacrifice that they will carry with them for the rest of their lives.

“The fact that we are here as a nation, we have a moral obligation to ensure that we take care of them, and that we remember them,” he added.

During the pregame reception and throughout the evening, there were several tributes to those who serve, including Army Sgt. Chelsey Billings, who was attending her first hockey game. “It’s amazing here and I’m very thankful for the opportunity,” Billings said. “I just like the game -- it’s very brute!”

When asked who she planned on rooting for, Billings gave the typical answer you’d hear at the Verizon Center: “C-A-P-S, Caps, Caps, Caps!”

Billings was one of four service members recognized during the game. Others were Marine Corps Maj. Stewart T. Upton, Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Max Rohn, and Air Force Senior Airman Perry M. Aston.

Casey said it’s important to have events like Military Appreciation Night to honor military members for their service and sacrifices on behalf of the nation.

“They’re just representing all the other men and women they serve with,” he said. “The important thing is, this is America saying, thank you to the men and women of the armed forces.”

With all the tributes played, and the playing of the national anthem by the U.S. Army Chorus, the night would not be complete without the usual “W” in the win column from the Caps.

“We’re 6-and1 on Military Night,” Leonsis said, sparking a laugh from the guests. “I have to figure out a way to do this in the playoffs,” he added.

Sure enough, the Caps pulled off the victory, beating the Blues 3-2, for their third-straight victory.

Boston Bruins Goalie Makes Holiday Call to Abraham Lincoln Sailors

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Seth Clarke, Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group Public Affairs

USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN, At Sea (NNS) -- A goalie for the Boston Bruins spoke to hockey fans aboard USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) during a phone call to the aircraft carrier Dec. 29.

Fourteen hockey fans aboard Abraham Lincoln gathered to ask Tim Thomas a number of questions throughout the call.

They asked about the Bruins' offensive approach, Thomas' early days in hockey and his early professional career playing in Finland and in the minor leagues.

Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Kaleb F. Brown asked what Thomas considered his most memorable moment as a hockey player.

Thomas said that although he has had quite a few memorable moments, his proudest moment came when he was named to the 2010 U.S. Olympic Hockey Team on the same day the Bruins won a shootout against the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2010 National Hockey League Winter Classic in front of 40,000 fans at Boston's Fenway Park.

"Being named to the Olympic Team had been my dream since I was five years old, and finally I was able to realize that dream," said Thomas. "It was a great day."

Brown also asked Thomas what kept him motivated to reach his goals.

"If you really want something, just work as hard as you can to try to accomplish it. If you do everything that you possibly can to reach a goal that you want to reach, you'll respect yourself at the end of the day. It's nice to be rewarded, and I think you will be if you want something bad enough and you work at it hard enough," said Thomas.

Thomas reminded the gathered fans that he still has a larger goal looming in his career.

"I want to win a Stanley Cup," said Thomas. "I'm still working on that one."

The hockey star's phone call is the latest in a series of recent calls from prominent Boston sports figures to Abraham Lincoln's sports fans. Ray Allen, Celtics shooting guard; Bill Belichick, New England Patriots Coach; and Wes Welker, New England Patriots wide receiver; called Sailors on Christmas Eve. Red Sox Manager Terry Francona called the ship Dec. 21.

The Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group is deployed in the U.S. 5th Fleet Area of Responsibility conducting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts to establish conditions for regional stability.

This article was sponsored by Military Books.

Kosovo Force Watches Fighting, Shooting – NHL Style

By Tech. Sgt. Jason Smith, USAF
Special to American Forces Press Service

Dec. 12, 2007 - Just after the Dec. 10 deadline for the conclusion of negotiating the status of Kosovo, servicemembers assigned to NATO's Kosovo Force sat back in their chairs and enjoyed the fighting and shooting. The fighting was actually thousands of miles away, where hockey players were throwing punches and shooting pucks during the Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers hockey broadcast on Versus, the national cable home of the National Hockey League.

During this critical period in Kosovo's history, pictures of American soldiers, airmen and sailors deployed to camps Film City and Bondsteel, Kosovo, were shown to a national television audience in the United States.

At the same time the troops' family members were watching the game at home, about 35 servicemembers gathered at Camp Film City's Morale, Welfare and Recreation Center at 1 a.m. Dec. 12 to watch the live broadcast on the American Forces Network.

When the first pictures of KFOR members appeared on the screen, the troops erupted with cheers and clapping. The sporting, yet relaxed, atmosphere gave some soldiers the chance to unwind for a little while and forget about the stress of the deployment.

"I e-mailed everyone I know," said Army Lt. Col. Elaine Berkowitz. "I'm from Pittsburgh, and I came to see my Penguins win. I think this is a fabulous event, and it's great for camaraderie."

The idea for the game came about when a small group of troops gathered for the Oct. 24 game between the Penguins and New York Rangers. A story was written about the game and sent to Versus. Eventually, Michael Baker, coordinating producer of the National Hockey League on Versus, received an e-mail with the story. Baker contacted the author of the story to thank the troops for watching the game. Through e-mails, they worked together to put on the Dec. 11 show.

"My mom and dad in Michigan are watching," said Army Spc. Graham Besonen. "It's important for them to see me and know I'm safe. I'm really a Red Wings fan, but I came to enjoy a hockey game and for my family to see me."

Most of the pictures were sent to Versus at least a week prior to the game. However, the network wanted to make sure all of the troops were recognized. Just prior to the start of the game, a group photo was taken and e-mailed to Baker. During the third period, the picture was shown on TV.

"I was really impressed with Versus and the NHL putting our pictures on during the game," said Army Sgt. Rich Allen. "I've always been a hockey fan, and to be deployed and see myself on television during a game was a once-in-a-lifetime experience."

The game ended with the Flyers dominating the Penguins, 8-2. This was disappointing for Penguins fans in the crowd, but being recognized at home was the most important thing for most of the people involved.

In addition to American troops, a few other NATO and Partnership for Peace troops were on hand at the MWR Center to cheer for their favorite team. Camp Film City, which serves as the Kosovo Force Headquarters, is a deployed home to troops of 34 nations.

(Air Force Tech. Sgt. Jason Smith is assigned to Kosovo Force Public Affairs.)

NHL Team Honors Troops, Families

By Carmen L. Gleason
American Forces Press Service

Feb. 9, 2007 – Servicemembers in the national capital region were honored by the Washington Capitals hockey team last night during a "Salute to the Military Night" at the Verizon Center. The National Hockey League's Capitals, along with 10 corporate sponsors, donated more than 6,000 tickets to troops and their families for the team's match-up against the Los Angeles Kings, which the Caps won 4-3 in overtime play.

This is the fifth time the club has hosted an event highlighting the men and women of the armed forces. With a 4-1 record on military nights, Capitals majority owner Ted Leonsis said the team consistently plays well in front of their armed forces audiences.

"We're thinking of making it 'Military Season,'" he said with a laugh. "I'd like to do away with 'Military Night' and make every day a day we thank the military men and women who are keeping us safe."

At the start of the game he came onto the large screens at the center of the arena to express his thanks to the military-heavy audience. "We can't thank you and your family enough for what you do for our country and to keep us safe," Leonsis said as the audience broke out with cheering and applause.

The Capitals have further demonstrated their encouragement of the military by partnering with the America Supports You program. The team joined the Defense Department program in January 2006 as a way to vocalize its support to troops.

Last night the hockey club collected gift items at each entrance for "Comfort for America's Uniformed Services." CAUSE, an America Supports You team member, will distribute the hundreds of movies, video games and gift cards to recuperating troops in area military hospitals.

According to Debbie Wenner, CAUSE president, this is the second year the Capitals have named her organization as a beneficiary of the Salute to the Military Night. The outpouring of donations from fans will greatly benefit the troops she supports.

The dozens of bags her volunteers loaded with gifts will go directly to Walter Reed Army Medical Center here and the National Naval Medical Center, in Bethesda, Md.

Walter Reed patient Army Staff Sgt. Pamela Schmecht said she was "totally psyched" to attend the evening's event. The Texas National Guard member was injured in Iraq in November; this was her first time out of the hospital since coming back to the states.

Schmecht, who is originally from Dale City, Va., has been a long-time Capitals fan and said she was touched that the team cares so much about the military.

"I'm having a great time," she said, "but I have mixed feelings, because it's hard to be here having fun when my unit is still in Iraq."

Even though they are on the other side of the world, servicemembers in Iraq had a chance to participate in the game. Prerecorded words of encouragement from deployed fans were played on the arena screens while the audience applauded.

"I want to shout it out to the Washington Capitals and Alex Ovechkin - go 08!" said Lt. Col. Kier-Kevin Curry on the "JumboTron."

Curry, who is stationed at Camp Victory, in Baghdad, has closely followed the Caps this season despite his deployment. During his mid-tour leave, he made it out to a home game to cheer on his favorite team.

His "shout out" was one of several videos and public service announcements honoring the military that played through the night. Each one resulted in cheers and applause throughout the arena.

In a pre-game reception, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Navy Adm. Edmund P. Giambastiani said shows of support like this are important to the men and women who daily put their lives on the line.

He expressed his appreciation not only to the Capitals, but to the celebrities and professional athletes who visit troops overseas.

"It's this kind of things on a day-to-day basis that makes a difference to servicemembers," he said.

Article sponsored by police personnel and military personnel who have become authors by writing books; and, criminal justice online leadership.