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CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The University of Illinois will honor and celebrate current and veteran military service personnel during the Illinois Football matchup vs. Rutgers on Oct. 30, with many military-themed events and features planned for the game. Game time is set for 11 a.m.  

Events and features for the game include:

1. Pilots from the Air Force's 122^nd Fighter Wing will conduct a pregame flyover flying two A-10 Thunderbolt single-seat wing jets from the Indiana Air National Guard out of Ft. Wayne, Ind. Pilots Lt. Col. Nate Sunderland and Capt. Christian Telle are both University of Illinois graduates.
2. During the game, Illinois football will recognize the Purple Heart designation received by the University this summer. The University of Illinois was designated as a Purple Heart university for its longstanding commitment to military veterans.
3. Cadets from the University of Illinois' four ROTC branches will perform its swearing in ceremony during the game, with cadets taking the oath of loyalty to the Constitution of the United States and committing to service in the United States military.
4. Illinois ROTC cadets will also conduct a 22-mile ruck march to deliver the game ball to Coach Bret Bielema and members of the Illinois football team with family in the military in the West Colonnades on Monday, Oct. 25 at 5 p.m. The 22 miles brings awareness to the 22 military service personnel that take their own lives each day.
5. The four branches of Illinois' ROTC programs will guard the Prisoners of War (POW) and Missing in Action (MIA) commemorative chair at the 50-yard line on the West side of Memorial Stadium directly behind the Illinois team bench. During each quarter ROTC cadets will stand in attention guarding the chair, with a changing of the guard at each quarter break.
6. The Illinois Chez Center for Wounded Veterans will supply the official coin for the pregame coin toss, which will later be auctioned on FightingIllini.com and proceeds donated to the Center. The Chez Center for Wounded Veterans provides residential and non-residential support services to empower military-connected students at the University of Illinois.
7. Members of Illinois' ROTC will form the pregame players tunnel prior to kickoff and will take over the Omni Blaster sending Illinois ROTC t-shirts into the Memorial Stadium crowd.
8. The Fighting Illini football team will be wearing patriotic-themed shirts during Illini Walk, produced by Gameday Spirit for Military Appreciation day, with portions of proceeds going to the Chez Center for Wounded Veterans. The Grange Grove Gameday Spirit location will also sell the Illini Walk shirts, as well as Illinois branded Operation Hat Trick caps, which also funds wounded veteran programs nationally. 
9. The Illinois Athletics Ticket Office has made available free tickets for active and retired military service personnel and their families for the game. All military personnel in attendance will be recognized during the game.
10. The Memorial Stadium videoboard will feature military videos and shout outs from personnel around the country and abroad.
11. The game will feature a Tri-Service color guard made up University of Illinois Army, Air Force, Space Force, Navy and Marines cadets.
12. These features complement the military traditions fans see each Saturday at Memorial Stadium, including the sounding of the air raid siren performed by a local veteran to signal the official start of the game, and the ringing of the Navy bell by Naval ROTC cadets and the Army push up crew following all Illini scoring drives.
13. Fans are also encouraged to visit the Colonnades on the east and west side of Memorial Stadium, which honors the University of Illinois students who lost their lives in World War I (etched into the columns) and all subsequent conflicts with the names of alumni, students and faculty who lost their lives (listed on plaques in each tower of the Stadium).

HISTORY OF MEMORIAL STADIUM: Memorial Stadium was built in 1923 as a memorial to Illinois men and women who gave their lives for their country during World War I. Holabird & Roche (now Holabird & Root), an architecture firm founded in Chicago, designed the stadium dedicated to the 189 University of Illinois students and alumni who died in WWI. Their names appear on 200 limestone columns that support the east and west sides of the stadium. On 189 of these columns was inscribed the name of an Illini soldier who died in the war. In addition, carved stone panels were placed on the facility's exterior to commemorate the war and to honor athletic achievements.

The stadium was officially dedicated on October 18, 1924, when the University football team played a homecoming game against the University of Michigan. In 2002, the stadium dedication was extended to those who died in World War II. The new veterans' memorial honors the 948 alumni, students, faculty and staff who were killed in our nation's wars and conflicts since 1918. Their names are engraved on one of four limestone tablets at the entrances to Memorial Stadium's east and west colonnades alongside the names of their fallen World War I comrades.

TICKETS AVAILABLE: Tickets are available for the Oct. 30 Illinois football matchup vs. Rutgers for as low as $35. Fans can purchase at FightingIllini.com or by calling 866-ILLINI-1. Discounts are available for groups of 20 or more, with additional benefits of parking passes, group tent hospitality and video board recognition.