GREEN BAY – Besides being popular with football fans, the NFL’s annual Salute to Service merchandise helps support veteran-focused organizations. It’s a win-win.
Salute to Service gear sells well, said Derek Dimmer, retail store manager at the Packers Pro Shop.
“I think it’s the most popular asked-for line that we carry each season,” he said. “People will always come in and ask for that even before it’s released.”
This year’s gear is brown, with green and yellow lettering and highlights for the Packers. Mostly clothing, it includes jerseys, hoodies, T-shirts, ball caps, stocking caps, bomber jackets, sweatpants, and large and small helmets.
The color is the same for all 32 teams. Past releases included camouflage and black gear.
The NFL does not profit from the sales. The league receives royalties from vendors, such as the Packers, on NFL-licensed products. For Salute to Service, the NFL donates royalties to Bob Woodruff Foundation , Pat Tillman Foundation, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), United Service Organizations (USO) and Wounded Warrior Project. Since 2011, more than $66 million was raised for Salute to Service partners.
Jerseys this year are for Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon. Dimmer said orders had to be made so early in the year, they weren’t sure who else would be starters who would also be popular enough to sell jerseys. He said hoodies sell the fastest.
In addition to the NFL Salute to Service initiative, the Packers will sponsor a range of programs through Nov. 11 that support veterans organizations. They include:
- Packers employees volunteering at Green Bay Vet Center’s Veterans’ Garden on Oct. 30.
- Packers players and veterans gathering at The Turn in Titletown on Oct. 31.
- A Salute to Service flag football tournament at Titletown on Nov. 3, featuring teams representing each branch of the military.
- A 50-mile Veteran Suicide Awareness March called 50 for the Fallen on Nov. 4. The 18-hour rucksack march will begin at Brown County Veterans Memorial and proceed around the Green Bay area before ending at halftime of the Packers-Los Angeles Rams game on Nov. 5 at Lambeau Field. Persons interested in participating can get more information at 50ftf.org.
- The Packers-Rams game on Nov. 5 is designated the Salute to Service game. Players will wear and use equipment with NFL Salute to Service camo-ribbon decals. In-game videos will highlight veterans and those who are serving.
- A 16.8-mile ruck march on the east side of Green Bay, starting at the KI Convention Center and using the Fox River Trail, on Nov. 11. The one-day event attracts more than 1,000 veterans, active-duty service members and civilians, which represents the number of veterans who commit suicide each day, according to H.O.O.A.H., an organization that works to eliminate suicide with a proactive approach to the overall wellness of service members, veterans and their support systems. Proceeds fund programs throughout the year that are customized to meet the needs of local veterans. Registration is available at hooahwi.org.
Veterans with military ID will get free admission to the Packers Hall of Fame on Nov. 11, as well as discounts at 1919 Kitchen and Tap and the Packers Pro Shop, which has Salute to Service gear in stock. Profit from purchases of Pro Shop gear will be donated by the NFL to its military nonprofit partners.
More:Packers, Fleet Farm program raises money to improve veterans’ health, reduce suicides
From Nov. 1 to 11, shoppers at Fleet Farm stores in Wisconsin can round up their purchases, with the money going to H.O.O.A.H. Fleet Farm will offer 10% off to veterans and active duty military personnel for in-store purchases on Nov. 11.
Throughout November, the Packers will share highlights of their efforts to recognize military members and veterans, including the team’s participation in the Stars & Stripes Honor Flight by Packers alumni and an upcoming visit to Fort McCoy by current Packers players. Highlights will be available at packers.com and on Packers social media sites.
Throughout the year, the Packers award grants, visit hospitals, offer Operation Fan Mail and more to support the military and veterans, said Aaron Popkey, director of public affairs.
Contact Richard Ryman at rryman@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @RichRymanPG, on Instagram at @rrymanPG or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RichardRymanPG/.
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Travis Burnett
A pioneer in the flag football community, Travis helped co-found the Flag Football World Championship Tour, FlagSpin and USA Flag. Featuring 15+ years of content creation for the sport of flag football, creating and managing the largest flag football tournaments on the planet, coaching experience at the youth and adult level as well as an active player with National and World Championship level experience.
