Oct. 31, 2012

LOGAN, Utah - Utah State University will celebrate Military Appreciation Day this Saturday, Nov. 3 during its football game against Texas State. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m., at Merlin Olsen Field at Romney Stadium and all gates open at 11:30 a.m.

All military personnel with proper identification will receive free admission to the game, while an $11 general admission ticket will be available to purchase for their immediate families. Tickets can be purchased in-person at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum ticket office throughout the week or at Romney Stadium on game day.

In addition, Lee's Marketplace has $10 general admission coupons available for the Texas State game for fans that buy their groceries at Lee's, with a one coupon per person limit that are only valid on game day.

Utah State will also be doing a halftime presentation, as University President Stan Albrecht and Vice President Noelle Cockett will be signing a community covenant, a first between a university and the military.

The goal of the National Guard-sponsored Community Covenant program is to educate local leaders on the challenges that service members and their families experience in all phases of deployment.

In its role, the University will make information available on programs that help military family members and will open a dialogue with the Utah National Guard to ensure that its programs can meet the needs of service members, veterans and their families.

This commitment will enable military families to utilize USU Extension resources and programs that offer support and guidance during times of transition. Military families will have easy access to these programs through USU's broad-reaching Extension offices in all 29 Utah counties.

Utah State University has a proud history of developing military leaders through its ROTC programs as well as welcoming veterans as students ready to move into their next career. There are currently 434 veterans enrolled at USU.

Utah State University also recognizes the service and sacrifice of all the men and women who protect our nation and honors those who have fallen in the line of duty. Since September 11, 2001, 142 Utahn's have died in military service. Currently, there are over 600 service members deployed from Utah.

It is through this community covenant that Utah State University expresses its commitment to service members and their families through educational resource and program support.

Utah State University is proud to be the first university to sign a community covenant with the Utah National Guard. It joins 137 cities and counties in Utah that have also made the commitment to support service members, both past and present, as well as their families.

Utah State University would like to recognize Aggie fans that have served or are currently serving in the Military by displaying their picture on the video board during the game. Please send a photo of you or someone you care about in uniform showing their Aggie pride to military@utahstateaggies.com and help us honor them.

For USU football ticket information, contact the USU Ticket Office at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum, or by phone by calling 1-888-USTATE-1 or (435) 797-0305. Tickets can also be purchased 24 hours a day at www.UtahStateAggies.com.

Fans can follow the Aggie football program at twitter.com/USUFootball. Aggie fans can also follow the Utah State athletic program at twitter.com/USUAthletics or on facebook at Utah State University Athletics.