CHARLESTON, S.C. - The Citadel Athletics will host their Military and First Responders Appreciation Day at the home-opening football game on Sept. 11. The day also marks the 20^th anniversary of 9/11. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m., but fans are encouraged to get there early to see the many gate displays.
 
This week, @CitadelSports has release videos of current and retired military members who are part of The Citadel community. These videos will continue to be released throughout the week and will be shown in the stadium upon gates opening two hours prior to kickoff.
 
Other activities surrounding Saturday's game include:

• A fragment of the World Trade Center will be placed as a memorial on a draped stand on the side porch of Marc Clark Hall with a full dress cadet as an honor guard from 9 a.m.-noon.
• American flags will line Hagood Avenue outside Johnson Hagood Stadium.
• Small American flags will be placed on the Southwest hill on Hagood Avenue. These 403 flags represent the first responders who lost their lives on September 11^th, 2001.
• Gate displays will be both outside and inside Johnson Hagood Stadium. These will include demonstrations, tabling, and military and first responder vehicles. Vehicles include, but are not limited to a firetruck, police vehicles, ambulance, Stryker vehicle, MRAPs and other military vehicles.
• The Citadel Football team will run out on to the field with flags from each branch of the military.
• Byron Addison, Citadel Class of 2012 and former football player, will join us for the singing of the National Anthem.
• A formation of T-38s out of Shepherd Air Force Base will flyover at the conclusion of the National Anthem. The formation will include Wing Commander Colonel Haas, Citadel Class of 1995.
• Veteran Students of The Citadel and a member of our ROTC leadership will join us on the field for the coin toss as honorary captains.
• Custom game coins with the date and event will be used for the coin toss and will be presented to honorary captains, the flyover crew, and other military members and first responders who were influential in making our event happen.
• The football team will be wearing American flag gloves and ribbon decals on their helmets to honor our military members and first responders.
• Patriotic bunting will be hung on the visiting team sideline.
• Rudd Plumbing, Heating and Air will be giving away camo drawstring backpacks to the first 1000 fans in attendance.
• Military members and first responders will be invited on to the field at halftime of the game to be recognized and thanked for their service.

 
To purchase tickets in advance to Saturday's game, please contact the ticket office at 843-953-3647 or visit citadelsports.com/tickets.
 

Campus traffic alert for visitors due to construction

Everyone coming to campus should prepare for the following now through Monday, Sept. 13:

• Hagood Gate is closed
  Because of construction, the gate at Hagood Ave. will remain closed for both vehicular and pedestrian traffic. People on foot can walk along sidewalk on the Hagood Ave. side of Bastin Hall, and across the back of the building following the crosswalks for campus access.
• Hagood Ave. from the gate to Lee St. is closed
  Richardson Ave. now ends at Hagood Ave. as a dead-end due to construction.
• Summerall Gate is closed on Saturday and Sunday.
  The city closes Hampton Park to vehicular traffic on Saturdays and Sundays, thus the campus gate entrance accessed from the park will be closed.
• All other campus gates will be open.
• Access the virtual campus map here.

Thank you for your cooperation and patience.