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Plymouth Whalers pay poignant tribute to veterans with Military Appreciation jersey

Neate Sager

On closer inspection, the Plymouth Whalers' Military Appreciation jersey stands out for the crowd.

Many major junior hockey teams honour those who made the ultimate sacrifice, on or just before Veterans Day in the United States and Remembrance Day in Canada. This weekend, the Whalers are wearing jerseys as part of an initiative to celebrate veterans and to raise awareness for their continuing healthcare, which can sometimes be overshadowed.

The Whalers' jersey's special HONOR - COURAGE - TEAMWORK - DISCIPLINE crest is matted against a depiction of three soldiers walking together, as if returning from a tour in combat. Very thoughtful.

From the Whalers' release:

On the ice, the Whalers will wear specifically designed camouflaged jerseys against the Sudbury Wolves and Windsor Spitfires. The jerseys will be auctioned off, with proceeds of the jersey auction, Whalers ticket sales over the weekend and 50/50 fundraisers to benefit the VA [U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs] Ann Arbor Healthcare System.

Off the ice, veterans can receive valuable information about services, assistance and benefits earned for any veteran and their family in need from the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System.

... During Saturday’s game, former POW’s from World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam conflict and from the Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts will be acknowledged.

Plymouth is expected to have more than 500 veterans of various vintages attending its games this weekend, with a 92-year-old World War II veteran who was a POW performing Saturday's ceremonial faceoff.

Whatever one's private feelings about war, tending to the needs of veterans should be about the last thing that ever gets politicized. The news coverage about governmental cuts to Veteran Affairs in both countries might only be a tip of the iceberg, so it's nice to to see a hockey team and a community work together to put the focus squarely there.

The young Whalers take a four-game point streak into the homestand, as they endeavour to earn a playoff spot for an OHL-best 23rd consecutive season.

Neate Sager is a writer for Yahoo! Canada Sports. Follow him on Twitter @neatebuzzthenet. Please address any questions, comments or concerns to btnblog@yahoo.ca.