The VFW teamed up with the Kansas City Chiefs on Nov. 6 to honor our nation’s veterans and active-duty service members with Military Appreciation Day at Arrowhead Stadium.
The VFW Military Assistance Program (MAP) hosted a hospitality tent before the game and the VFW Foundation provided fans at the game with giveaways and VFW merchandise for sale throughout the stadium. The Chiefs also made VFW Adjutant General Allen “Gunner” Kent an honorary coin toss captain for the game.
MAP provided over 300 game tickets to area veterans, active-duty service members and their families. The VFW program also covered all costs associated with the hospitality tent, including a barbeque buffet lunch catered by Hy-Vee. Over a dozen door prizes were also awarded, ranging from $100 gift cards to tickets to future Chiefs games.
Kansas City Chiefs mascot KC Wolf even stopped by the tent to mingle with veterans and get them pumped up for the game. All of the activities provided a fun atmosphere for everyone who attended, and it was a great way for the VFW to show support for our nation’s heroes.
“We’re very grateful to the VFW for putting this on for all the veterans. It’s great that people give back, and the VFW does so much throughout the year. Sometimes it takes something small like this just to show everybody how great the VFW is,” said Marshall Stafford, who enjoyed lunch with his daughter inside the hospitality tent.
The Chiefs organization did their part honoring veterans and service members too by supporting the VFW Foundation’s “Return the Favor” campaign, which honors, celebrates and supports active-duty military, veterans and their families. Return the Favor car magnets were handed out to the first 15,000fans who entered Arrowhead Stadium, and a Chiefs-themed military hat and Return the Favor lapel pins were sold inside the stadium with proceeds benefitting the Return the Favor campaign.
The VFW Foundation has been a partner of the Kansas City Chiefs since 2010, and this is the second year MAP has hosted a hospitality tent before a game. The Chiefs activities with the VFW coincided with an NFL-wide military appreciation initiative leading up to Veterans Day.