PAO H5!: Heroes night at Houston Astros 9/11/10 - some free tickets from USO, more discounted tickets from Houston Astros
72nd IBCT Public Affairs Section
All,
The home Houston Astros game this coming Saturday evening, 11 September, has been designated "Heroes Night" by the team. The Astros are marking the occaision in two ways: by offering discounted tickets, and by inviting all IN UNIFORM military, police, fire & EMS personnel to participate in a pre-game ceremony. IN ADDITION TO THAT, the Houston USO purchased many tickets to that same game, and has given 60 of the tickets to the 72nd Brigade to give to Soldiers and their families (1 guest per servicemember - 1 additional guest if the extra guest is a dependent child - max potential total of 2 guests per servicemember. Intent is for at least 40% of the donated tickets to be used by servicemembers in uniform.)
Here is the allocation based on recent average BOG drill attendance:
536th - 27 tickets
HHC 8
A Co 536th - 11
C Co 536th - 5
D Co 3/141 - 3
72nd STB - 33 tickets
HHC BDE - 12
A, B and C Co STB - 7 each
IF YOUR SOLDIERS WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CEREMONY & USE THE FREE TICKETS: They must commit to going and follow the expectations (in uniform, on time, no alcohol, stay for at least one hour of the game).
IF YOUR SOLDIERS WANT TO GO IN AN OFF-DUTY CAPACITY: They should use the information on the attached flyer to purchase discounted tickets on their own.
Here's how the free tickets/ceremony will work:
1. Actual tickets will be physically distributed THAT DAY just outside the stadium, however, soldiers will be able to lock in their tickets in advance.
2. To do this, BDE PAO is creating a stack of unique ticket vouchers - one individually numbered voucher for each ticket. The vouchers are in the form of a standard counseling form with a photocopy of the actual ticket being reserved. The counseling statement contains all of the requirements to accept the free tickets and participate in the ceremony (formation time, uniform, number of guests allowed, etc.)
3. Orderly rooms will receive their allocation of ticket vouchers TODAY (Thursday) by 1200 hrs. Orderly rooms can distribute the vouchers between then and Saturday at 1200 hrs. As always, priority is to lower ranks (junior enlisted, junior NCOs, junior officers).
4. If a Soldier wants to reserve tickets, he/she reviews the counseling statement. The orderly room ensures that the Soldier understands the expectations contained within the counseling statement. If he/she can commit to going under the terms listed in the statement, he/she fills out the information and signs the statement.
5. The Soldier keeps a copy, the orderly room keeps a copy, and the original gets returned to MAJ Collett (Until Saturday morning. After that, the originals go straight to the detail leader SGT Sanchez).
6. The Soldier brings his/her voucher(s) to the formation outside the stadium on Saturday. The Soldier receives the actual ticket(s). If accompanied by non-uniformed families/guests, the guests separate from their Soldier and go straight to the seating area. When prompted by Astros staff, the detail leader SGT Sanchez files the Soldiers into the stadium for the pre-game ceremony.
7. After the ceremony, the Soldiers file up to the concourse. The detail leader gives a safety briefing and then releases the Soldiers to be with their guests/families in the seating area. The detail leader will ask select Soldiers to complete a short thank-you note while in the seating area. When all thank you notes have been returned to the detail leader and the minimum time in the seating area has passed, Soldiers will be on their own to travel to their home of record. While certainly encouraged to stay for the whole game, if family circumstances require it, they are free to leave according to their own timetable.
HOWEVER: SOLDIERS ARE ON DUTY UNTIL THEY SAFELY REACH THEIR HOME OF RECORD. SOLDIERS MUST STAY IN UNIFORM.
MAJ Collett