Feb. 10, 2009
Notre Dame, Ind. – The University of Notre Dame, today, announced a pair of promotions for the upcoming men’s basketball homestand. The Irish will be hosting the second annual “Camouflage Night” on Thurs., (Feb. 12) against the No. 5/7 Louisville Cardinals and a food drive on Sun. (Feb. 15) when the USF Bulls come to town.
The Irish kick off the brief two-game homestand against Louisville on Thursday, with tip-off against the Cardinals on ESPN in a 7:00 p.m. telecast. All fans in attendance will receive a Notre Dame camouflage t-shirt, sponsored by adidas and the U.S. Army, to wear in support of the men and women serving in our armed forces.
The Irish, in conjunction with honoring our great military, will be hosting a number of special guests who will be in attendance for the basketball game. Included in the group will be four recently wounded soldiers from Walter Reed Military Hospital (Staff Sergeant Dillon Behr; Staff Sergeant Freddie De Los Santos) in Washington, D.C. and Brooke Army Medical Center (Lance Corporal Anthony Villarreal; Staff Sergeant Leroy Petry) in San Antonio, Texas.
Staff Sergeant Dillon Behr, a member of the Third Special Forces Group stationed in Fort Bragg, N.C., was injured by a gunshot wound last May while serving in Afghanistan. He is currently on track to make a full recovery and continue on active duty.
Staff Sergeant Freddie De Los Santos, also stationed at Fort Bragg, N.C., was injured while in Afghanistan on October 20, 2008. He is serving as a member of the Alpha Company, 98th Civil Affairs Battalion.
Lance Corporal Anthony Villarreal, a 23-year-old Infantry Marine with Golf Company, Second Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment out of 29 Palms has served two full tours of duty in Iraq. On June 20, 2008 Villarreal was injured in Afghanistan while serving on his third tour.
Staff Sergeant Leroy Petry serves with the second battalion of the 75th Ranger Regiment. He was wounded last May in Afghanistan and is currently rehabbing along with Lance Corporal Anthony Villarreal at Brooke Army Medical Center.
Fans are encouraged to stay seated for a halftime video documenting Mike Brey and his recent endeavors with “Operation Hardwood” as well as a look at the team’s personal visit to Walter Reed Military Hospital in January of 2008. Upon conclusion of the video, an on-court tribute will be held for the four men in attendance who were injured during their call of duty.
The Irish will conclude the two-game homestand on Sunday against the USF Bulls at 2:00 p.m. Fans are encouraged to bring canned food items to donate for a food drive in conjunction with the United Way of St. Joseph County. Canned goods will be delivered to Michiana charities in need of food donations.
All fans interested in donating to the drive should bring their canned goods to any of the men’s basketball entrances (Gates 1, 8, 10) on Sunday. Collection boxes will be available at each entrance into the Joyce Center.
–ND–