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Rice University Athletics
More Hurricane Problems Plague Operation Military Salute
10/20/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 20, 2005
Houston - First it was Hurricane Rita, forcing the postponement of the Rice/Navy game from Sept. 24 to this Saturday at historic Rice Stadium. Now, Hurricane Wilma has put a crimp in the pregame festivities for Operation Military Salute.
With the Navy needing all available pilots to evacuate aircraft this week from Florida due to Wilma, Saturday's pregame flyover of Navy jets has been cancelled.
"The Navy informed us Wednesday that the threat of Hurricane Wilma has forced the cancellation of the scheduled flyover during the National Anthem," Rice associate athletic director Mike Pede' has announced. "With the postponement last month, they have made every effort to help us maintain this special part of the pregame, but I guess it just wasn't to be."
Most of the other aspects of Operation Miltary Salute will go on as planned, including special renditions of the National Anthem and God Bless America. A post-game fireworks displayed is also set.
Primary to the day's activities is the fund-raising effort for the Fallen Patriots Fund. When fans purchase tickets at RiceOwls.com and enter the special promotion code "PATRIOT," $5 of the $10 ticket price will be earmarked for that fund which benefits families of fallen or injured military personnel.
The game kicks at 5 pm CDT with the radio broadcast on ESPN 790 scheduled to begin at 4:30 pm.
