Colorado Avalanche salute Soldiers, Families

By Walt Johnson (Fort Carson)March 6, 2014

Colorado Avalanche salute Soldiers, Families
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – FORT CARSON, Colo. -- Wendi Thygesen, bottom center, her grandchildren, Kayleigh and Skylar Thygesen and daughter-in-law, Michelle Thygesen, respond to seeing Sgt. Joshua Thygesen, 1st Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Colorado Avalanche salute Soldiers, Families
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – FORT CARSON, Colo. -- Colorado Avalanche players wear special camouflage jerseys during the pregame skate March 2 at the Pepsi Center in Denver. The Avalanche hosted a military appreciation night that featured "shout outs" to loved ones from seven de... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT CARSON, Colo. -- Members of the Mountain Post joined military members from throughout the state March 2 to celebrate Military Appreciation Night with the Colorado Avalanche at the Pepsi Center in Denver.

The National Hockey League club honored members of the military with a night of fun and appearances from larger than life military members serving overseas on the arena's new scoreboard, featuring two screens 48 feet wide and 27 feet high and two 25 feet wide and 21 feet high. From the time the arena doors opened to let fans in there was an atmosphere that promised to provide military members and their Families a night to remember.

As people filed into the arena, the scoreboard had a montage of pictures with military members and their Families in addition to a welcome from the Avalanche. When the Avalanche took to the ice for their pregame warm-up, military members felt right at home as the players came out in camouflage jerseys. League rules prohibit the wear of the jerseys during games, but the Avalanche were allowed to wear them in the pregame skate and the jerseys, with the players name on them, will be auctioned off to benefit Kroenke Charities, according to the Avalanche.

The Avalanche won the game 6-3, thanks to four consecutive goals in the third period, but the biggest win for the franchise was the effect the night had on military members and their Families. The Avalanche and some of its players made tickets available to military Families to be at the game to see the on-screen "shout outs" from their deployed loved ones.

"This means a lot to us to be here tonight. This is the first deployment my Family and I have had in the Army," said Brandi Jackson, wife of Sgt. James Jackson, 2nd Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, who attended the game with her four children. "It really means a lot to me to know that people put the kind of time, effort and money into honoring servicemembers and their Families who are deployed. This is especially nice for a big family like ours that can't afford to do this on a normal basis. The kids are really enjoying themselves tonight, and I think we are about to become really big hockey fans," Jackson said.

Wendi Thygesen, who attended the game with her daughter-in-law, Michelle Thygesen, and her two grandchildren, said her Family was honored that the Avalanche and the people of Colorado took the time to honor the service of those currently deployed in support of the country's war on terrorism.

"Being able to see (my son) on the screen gave us a feeling that he is still a part of our community here, even though he is serving overseas right now," said Wendi Thygesen, mother of Sgt. Joshua Thygesen, 1st Bn., 67th Armor Reg., 2nd ABCT, 4th Inf. Div.

Michelle Thygesen said it was an amazing feeling to see her husband and fellow servicemembers being honored on the big screen. She said seeing her husband and his fellow servicemembers being recognized will always be a special moment for her Family.

"When I saw (my husband) on the screen, I was so excited, but I was happier for my kids because we miss him so much. We can't wait for him to come home," Michelle Thygesen said.

"This was our first hockey game, and the kids were so excited about the game. My son asked me to buy him a hockey uniform because he wants to play the game and he wants to be a goalie."