The Erie BayHawks and the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) today unveiled commemorative military themed uniforms the team will wear on Friday, March 9 during the team’s inaugural “Salute Our Troops” night.
The camouflage uniforms include the BayHawks traditional wordmark with a yellow “Support Our Troops” ribbon in place of the “A” in Hawks. An American flag dons the right chest and “USA” appears on the backside above the numbers. The shorts also include a yellow ribbon on the left leg.
“We understand the sacrifice made by our veterans in service of our nation,” said Regan Shabloski, D.O., associate dean of clinical education at LECOM. Dr. Shabloski is an Army Lieutenant Colonel who recently served in an Iraq military hospital. “Many LECOM graduates and faculty members have served in the armed services and we currently have 135 students who will become Army, Navy or Air force physicians upon graduation,” according to Dr. Shabloski. The LECOM Family is just as proud of our serving family members as any family is of their serving daughter, son, parent, or relative. LECOM students show their support to the serving members or our nation’s forces by wearing their uniforms on Mondays to show solidarity to our men and women in uniform and in harm’s way.
LECOM was recently recognized by First Lady Michele Obama for our commitment to her Joining Forces initiative. Within our curriculum, medical students learn how to recognize and treat veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injuries. Veterans and members of the Military are honored at graduation each year when the roll call of service songs are played and each member is asked to stand in recognition of their service when their branch song is played. Our graduating military physicians are issued a LECOM challenge coin at the time of commencement to remind them of our support and the commitment that they have willing made on behalf of our nation, our nation’s service members, on our own individual freedom. LECOM and the Members of the Military Medicine Club are extremely happy, proud, and honored to be a part of this program to honor our American Heroes!
The special uniforms are part of several special initiatives that LECOM and the BayHawks have planned to honor military personnel:
- The commemorative uniforms will be auctioned off via online auction and bids placed at the arena during the game on March 9. Proceeds will benefit care packages for troops serving overseas being assembled by LECOM students;
- Current and retired military personnel receive free tickets to the March 9 game when they show their military ID or DD214 card at the Tullio Arena box office;
- Fans can donate care package items at the March 9 game such as phone cards, gift cards, gum, batteries and hygiene products. A complete list of accepted items can be found at supportourtroops.org;
- “Coffee Cultures,” located at 5761 Peach Street, is offering a FREE cup of coffee with the purchase of a muffin to all military personnel and veterans with proper identification on Saturday, March 10, 2012.
Fans can purchase tickets at the Tullio Arena box office, 809 French Street, or by calling 814-452-4857.
The Erie BayHawks, presented by LECOM, are the NBA Development League affiliate of the New York Knicks. The NBA Development League, founded in 2001, is the NBA’s official minor league whose teams have direct affiliations to NBA franchises. The BayHawks, established in 2008, play their home games at Tullio Arena and were one of the first teams in the Development League to establish a marquee partnership. The BayHawks marquee partner, the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM), LECOM School of Dental Medicine and LECOM School of Pharmacy offer innovative and affordable education in osteopathic medicine, dentistry and pharmacy. From campuses in Erie, Pennsylvania, Greensburg, Pennsylvania and Bradenton, Florida, LECOM provides student-centered pathways to prepare the next generation of healthcare professionals. LECOM physicians serve as the BayHawks medical staff, the team practices at the state-of-the-art LECOM Medical Fitness & Wellness Center, and together the BayHawks and LECOM promote education, health and wellness throughout Erie county.