Duke to Host Military Appreciation Day and Honor Jimmy Regan
The Duke University men’s lacrosse team will host Military Appreciation Day Saturday, March 26 when the ninth-ranked Blue Devils hosts No. 5 Syracuse in the teams’ 2016 ACC opener. Faceoff is set for 12 p.m., on ESPNU.
All active duty and retired military personnel will receive a complimentary ticket and family members can purchase tickets for a discounted $5. Veterans or their family representatives can come to the Duke Ticket Office, located in Cameron Indoor Stadium, between 8:30 am – 5 pm to pick up and purchase tickets. Military I.D. must be presented to receive tickets complimentary and discounted tickets.
Duke’s Military Appreciation Game will pay tribute to the life and legacy of Sergeant James J. Regan and the Army Ranger Lead The Way Fund founded in memory of Regan.
Sgt. Regan was a 2002 graduate of Duke University and four-year letter winner for the Blue Devils, helping lead the team to two ACC Championships. After graduation, Jimmy served with the Army’s elite Special Operations 75th Ranger Regiment until he was killed in combat on February 9, 2007 while on a mission in Iraq. The Blue Devils honor Jimmy throughout the season by donning JR #10 on their helmets along with a patch of the Army Ranger Lead The Way Fund logo on the back of their jerseys.
“After our son Jimmy was killed in February 2007, we wanted to find a way to honor his life and spirit, said Jimmy’s father Jim Regan. “Our friends and family created LTWF [Lead The Way Fund] as a way to give back to the men he considered his brothers. These men have endured over 22 consecutive deployments in support of the Global War on Terrorism and the needs that are not being met by the Government are vast.”
Army Ranger Lead The Way Fund is an active duty, casualty assistance, recovery and Warrior transition organization whose mission is to provide financial assistance to the men and families of the 75th Ranger Regiment, beyond what the government and Veterans Affairs can offer. Over the past few years, the Fund has pushed out close to $2 million in support. In addition to an immediate $3500 stipend for wounded Rangers upon hospital arrival, the Fund provides grants for family enrichment, morale activities, support groups for spouses during deployment, memorial services, and is now purchasing and modifying ADA accessible homes for the more severely wounded Rangers.
To help further the support Lead The Way Fund provides to our military personnel, Duke Men’s Lacrosse will host a silent auction during the game with exclusive Duke Lacrosse Memorabilia and other exclusive Duke items and experiences available for bidding. Lead The Way Fund will also have merchandise available for sale during the game.
For more information about Army Ranger Lead The Way Fund, or to donate, please visit www.leadthewayfund.org.