Cal State San Bernardino will host its annual "Military Appreciation Night"

San Bernardino, Calif. – The Veterans Success Center at Cal State San Bernardino will host its annual “Military Appreciation Night” on Saturday, Jan. 17, at Coussoulis Arena, when the Coyotes men’s and women’s basketball teams take on the CSU East Bay Pioneers.

The festivities will kick-off with a free tailgate party, which will be in the lobby of Coussoulis Arena from 4-7 p.m., exclusively for all U.S. military service members and their families, including active-duty service, reservists, National Guard members, veterans, ROTC/JROTC cadets, and all CSUSB students.

The tailgate party will feature food, snacks, drinks, DJ entertainment and prize giveaways. Parking is $5 per vehicle, but is free to current and former military members with proof of military service in Lot G.

The women’ basketball game will start at 5:30 p.m., and the men’s game will begin at 7:30 p.m. Admission to the games is also free by printing out a ticket from VSC’s Facebook page.

As part of military appreciation, there will be a joint presentation of colors by the CSUSB Army and Air Force ROTC units. Opera tenor Richard Lindsey, currently performing in Rancho Cucamonga’s Lewis Family Playhouse, will sing the National Anthem. It will also include the unfurling of a giant American flag by local high school Junior ROTC units.

During half-time of the men’s game, organizers of the event will recognize disabled veterans and Wounded Warriors in the audience. In addition, attendees will witness the ceremonial oath of enlistment of about 25 prospective armed services men and women.

Sponsors of Military Appreciation Night include CSUSB Athletics, the Student Veterans Organization, Associated Students Inc.; Tello’s Tailors and Menswear, Golden Valley Medical and Oxygen Service and the California Army National Guard.

For more information about Military Appreciation Night’s tailgate party and basketball game, contact Jaime Espinoza at the Veterans Success Center at jespinoza@csusb.edu or call (909) 537-5195.

For more information about Cal State San Bernardino, contact the university’s Office of Public Affairs at (909) 537-5007 and visit news.csusb.edu.