PELHAM – American Legion Matthew Blount Post 555 is teaming up with Alabama Hockey to host Military Appreciation Night on Feb. 9 at the Pelham Civic Complex and Ice Arena.

Alabama Hockey is set to host Missouri State’s hockey team. The game starts at 7 p.m. with the pre-game and opening ceremony events beginning at 6:45 p.m. Members from the Vincent High School JROTC will present the colors while members of the Pelham High School choir sing the National Anthem.

Also during the pre-game ceremonies, Pelham Mayor Gary Waters, Army veteran and member of Post 555, and Harry Christian, commander of the Department of Alabama American Legion and a Panama veteran, will join the team captains during the drop of the puck.

Post 555 and Alabama Hockey are hosting Military Night in partnership with the David Lindsay Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, American Village-Veterans Register of Honor, Pelham Youth Hockey Association and other youth groups.

Veterans, active military personnel and all who have honorably served will receive free admission into the game. Each person must present proof of service, which refers to military ID, driver’s license with military ID, ID tags, DD Form 214, VA medical card or Veterans’ organization membership card.

General admission is $10 for adults, $5 for children 12 and under, as well as University of Alabama students with Act Cards. The Pelham Fire Department will display a large American flag at the rink’s entrance.

Post 555 will have an event display tent with the flags of each military branch and a “Fallen Heroes’ Table” in the rink’s main lobby available for photos from 6–8 p.m. Photos will be available for download on the Post 555 website at Alpost555.smugmug.com.

Post 555, also known as Triple Nickel, will also have information tables set up at the event with details about VA compensation and pension benefits as well as American Village Veterans’ Register of Honor table.

At the end of the first period, the team and more than a dozen different local youth organizations will recognize all service members in attendance and present 100 gift bags provided by the Daughters of the American Revolutionary, along with a gift card for a meal provided by Pelham’s Texas Roadhouse.

During the distribution of the appreciation gift bags, Robert Robinson Jr. will sing a musical tribute to the men and women who serve and have served in the military.

Gift basket giveaways will also be conducted for veterans and military members during the night. Full Moon BBQ, Golden Rule BBQ, McAlister’s Deli and Texas Roadhouse, The Chubbfather in Alabaster, DAR, and American Legion donated gift bag items for veterans and military members.

The Exchange Club of Shelby County will donate travel/miniature flags to the first 100 active military and veterans with ID.

For additional information, contact Kenneth Paschal at 1sgpaschal@gmail.com.