Military Appreciation Day Set For January 17
1/13/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
BUFFALO, NY – The University at Buffalo, the State University of New York, will be hosting Military Appreciation Day during its basketball doubleheader on Saturday, January 17.
Through out the day we will be honoring current and past military members as well as offering special ticket prices to all military personnel, who can purchase $10 tickets, up to 4, with their military ID.
The highlight of the event will be the recognition of Lt. Col. Brian Mennes, Deputy Commanding Officer in the US Army. Col. Mennes awards and decorations include: three Legions of Merit, five Bronze Star Medals, six Meritorious Service Medals, the NATO Meritorious Service Medal, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Air Assault Badge, Pathfinder Badge, Master Parachutist Badge, Combat Infantryman Badge, and Ranger Tab.
Col. Mennes commanded the 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment (PIR), 82d Airborne Division and deployed to Afghanistan for 15 months where the unit served as the ISAF Commander's Theater Tactical Force (COIN Reserve) throughout Afghanistan. He then commanded 1st Ranger Battalion in Savannah, GA and deployed to both Afghanistan and Iraq. During his last operational assignment, Col. Mennes commanded the 4th Brigade, 82d Airborne Division at Fort Bragg and deployed to Zharay (Western Kandahar) Afghanistan where he led a Combined, Joint and Interagency Task Force in support of Regional Command South.
Col. Mennes graduated from the United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point, NY and was commissioned as an Infantry Officer in May 1988. His professional military education includes the Infantry Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, Command and General Staff College (CGSC), and a US Army War College Fellowship at the Institute of World Politics and the United Kingdom's Higher Command and Staff Course. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from USMA and a Masters in Military Art and Science from CGSC.
The women's basketball team will host Ball State in the first game of the doubleheader at 1:00 pm, while the men will host Miami (OH) 30 minutes following the conclusion of the first game.
