The Steelers will honor active-duty service members and veterans on Sunday at Acrisure Stadium when they host the Baltimore Ravens as a part of the Steelers Salute to Service game. The Salute to Service game, an annual NFL initiative, honors our nation's service members, veterans, and their families.
There will be plenty of activities honoring the military, including some with Steelers ties.
The Steelers are working in conjunction with the United States Special Operations Command (SOCOM) for multiple aspects of the Salute to Service initiatives.
"The Steelers are very much committed to the military and wanted to honor Special Operations," said Allie Weiskopf, the Director of Public Affairs for SOCOM. "The Steelers are dedicated to involving so much of the Special Ops, to honor them and really ensure that our service members could also go to the game and have a good experience. I would say the Steelers went above and beyond.
"And the Steelers are committed to honoring their employees, and their fans who have served or have someone who served, as well as a part of this game. That is special and unique.
"I'm an Army brat, so I've worked all over. I've obviously been in the Army for 20 years. It is very special here in Pittsburgh and we feel very welcome."
The collaboration will begin before fans enter the Acrisure Stadium, with SOCOM displays on Art Rooney Avenue. Among the items on hand will be a military helicopter. In addition, there will be an Army Robot Dog. There will also be special operations gear, which includes an MZRZ special operations tactical vehicle and Zodiak small boat.
The Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps will have tents in which gear will be on display, as well as information on all of the branches available.
Among the game highlights will be a Para-Commando Parachute team that will jump into the stadium pregame, dropped by the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, with Major Ashley Selfridge, who is from the Western Pa., area, delivering the game ball to General Bryan Fenton, a career Special Forces (Green Beret) Officer. General Fenton is the 13th Commander of the U.S. Special Operations Command.
"We are happy to do this with the Steelers because we're just so grateful that the Steelers want to honor them and highlight service," said Weiskopf. "Of course, we think service is special. So, we're just glad we get to bring that concept into the living rooms of the millions of Americans that will be watching this game.
"It means a lot to do this for Special Operations. They have always been what we call the silent professionals. They're the elite of the elite. They're not often publicly recognized. It's really nice for them to get that opportunity."
The Steelers will take the field with active SOCOM members leading the way out of the tunnel, each carrying the flag of their respective branch. They will be led out by individuals carrying the American Flag and the POW Flag. The individuals will also be honored during the game on the Jumbotron.
The Color Guard will be a SOCOM Joint Forces unit, featuring the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard and Space Force.
Lt. Col. Chad M. Gontkovic, who hails from Johnstown, Pa., will perform the National Anthem. General Fenton and Command Sergeant Major Shane Shorter, United States Special Operations Command, will serve as the honorary co-captains for the coin toss.
The Terrible Towel unfurl will be led by SOCOM members, all of whom are guests of the team at the game.
There will be a flyover of two A-10 Warthogs from the A-10 Demo Team from Davis-Monthan AFB.
The U.S. Steel Salute to Heroes recipient is Retired United States Navy Seal James Hatch. Hatch was part of a Special Operations unit that was deployed to Afghanistan to bring back 16 fallen colleagues who were killed by a rocket-propelled grenade.
The Terrible Towel Twirl will be led by former Steelers offensive lineman Jon Kolb, who served in the United States Army, along with active SOCOM members.
'Renegade' will take on a new look on Sunday, with military highlights intertwined with the aid of SOCOM.
There will be other aspects for the Salute to Service game, including all active duty and veterans who are Steelers or Acrisure Stadium staff being honored in game.
Punter Corliss Waitman welcomed a group from TAPS and Survivor Outreach Services to Acrisure Stadium for lunch on Friday and surprised them with banners to honor their fallen heroes that will hang outside of the stadium for today's game.
The community organization of the game is TAPS. TAPS is the national nonprofit organization providing compassionate care and comprehensive resources to all those grieving a death in the military or veteran community. Since 1994, TAPS has provided comfort and hope 24/7 through a national peer support network and connection to grief resources, all at no cost to surviving families and loved ones. TAPS provides a variety of programs to survivors nationally and worldwide.
The Neighborhood Ford Store is planning a donation drive for the VA Pittsburgh's Homeless Veterans program, which will take place during activation prior to the game. The donation site will be on Art Rooney Avenue next to the Official Truck of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
There will be a pregame presentation at the POW/MIA Chair. Local leaders will join military representatives for a solemn remembrance.
A Salute to Service video featuring messages from Steelers players and coaches will air during pregame.
Country music star and actor Chip Esten will perform a salute to Rocky Bleier's storied career from his service in the Army during the Vietnam War and his four-time Super Bowl Champion career at halftime. Through a non-profit veteran's organization, CreatiVets, his career was captured in a song called "The Names That You Don't Know (The Ballad of Rocky Bleier)" and will be performed live by Esten.
The American Red Cross will staff a holiday card signing station for deployed military members, veterans and their families. Fans can visit the display in the Fed Ex Great Hall from when gates open until the end of halftime.
In addition, there will be military shoutouts throughout the game on the jumbotron from local deployed service members and fans. 'I Salute' placards will be handed out to fans. Salute to Service banners and stencils will be on display throughout the stadium. Military charities will be set up on Art Rooney Avenue for fans to stop by pregame.
