SIDELINE SCOOP WEEK 9 // VS. DETROIT LIONS // SUNDAY, NOV. 4 TODAY’S GAME ENTERTAINMENT ELEMENTS POW RECOGNITION Game Theme: Salute to Service Brainerd, Minn. Native Walter Straka is a 99-year old World War II veteran who National Anthem: was held as Prisoner of War during the The national anthem will be performed by Navy Band Great Lakes and Bataan Death March. The Bataan Death the colors will be presented by the Joint Service Honor Guard. The full field March was the forcible transfer by the American Flag detail will be held by Season Ticket members who have served Imperial Japanese Army of nearly 80,000 in the military. American and Filipino prisoners of war in the Philippines. Straka is the only surviv- The C-130 Flyover will be conducted by the 934th Airlift Wing from ing Minnesotan from the Death March. Minneapolis Air Force Reserves. They are also known as the Flying Vikings. VETERAN’S VOYAGE Gjallarhorn Sounder: Antoine Winfield Five veterans who were previously sur- Winfield was a 3-time Pro Bowl defensive back for the Vikings from2004-2012. prised at their homes with groceries for He is a member of the 50 Greatest Vikings team. a year and tickets to the Vikings vs Lions game will be on the field and surprised Honorary Captain: Mike McElhiney again with a trip to Washington, DC, for Veterans Day. The Honorary Captain will be the Chief of Staff for the MinnesotaDepartment of Veterans Affairs, Mike McElhiney. McElhiney served as an elite Green Beret PLEASE HOLD OUT ANY RELEASE in the United States Army and was assigned to the 5th Special Forces Group, INFORMATION UNTIL AFTER which was one of the first units to infiltrate Southern Afghanistan after 9/11. HALFTIME AS THIS WILL BE A The decorated veteran is a recipient of countless military decorations including SURPRISE the Bronze Star with Valor and Purple Heart.

Halftime: Halftime will feature a special military tribute by star . His first single “” off of his debut Mercury Lane is climbing the Billboard charts, currently at No.3 on the Country Airplay chart.

Active military from multiple branches of service, along with Season Ticket members who have served in the military, will be on-field during the musical performance to be recognized.

Additionally at halftime, the Vikings, Polaris, and Wounded Warrior Project have partnered to surprise retired Marine veteran John Chance with a Polaris RANG- ER. Chance retired from the military after his vehicle ran over an IED during his deployment. The Purple Heart recipient currently volunteers at Ardent Outdoor Group where he takes veterans out on hunting expeditions. Polaris will also be surprising them with RANGERS as well.

HOMETOWN HERO: ALVIN DONAHOO Alvin Donahoo, a World War II Navy veteran who recently celebrated his 100th birthday, will be honored as the Hometown Hero. Donahoo joined the Navy in 1942 and was part of the unit that stormed the beaches during the 1944 Invasion of Normandy operation. He was on a landing craft that would deliver tanks, supplies, ammunition to the beach to help assist the Allied forces during one of the most iconic turning points of the war.