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Rolls-Royce and USO team up to honor service members, families of fallen heroes during championship football game
Wednesday, 1 February 2012(Indianapolis, IN) – Rolls-Royce, the global power systems company, and the USO of Indiana are teaming up to honor Marine and Army veterans and the families of fallen soldiers for their service and sacrifice on behalf of our country. Activities are planned during the championship football game in Indianapolis on Feb. 5, 2012.
Through the USO of Indiana and the Marine Foundation of Indiana, Rolls-Royce is sponsoring veterans and the parents of fallen soldiers to attend the championship game and a pre-game “tailgate” party for over 40 wounded and recovering United States Marines.
Attending the Championship Game:
Two Wounded Warriors, Two Fathers of Fallen Service Members
In coordination with the USO of Indiana, Rolls-Royce is sponsoring two veterans wounded in combat and two fathers of soldiers killed in action to attend the championship game.
Overview of fallen service members:
- Charles (CV) Wilson of Otterbein, Ind., is the father of father of U.S. Marine Cpl Bryan S Wilson who was killed in action on Dec. 1, 2004, while serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Cpl Bryan Wilson’s birthday is Feb. 5th, making this an important game to honor his son.
- Jim Frantz of Lafayette, Ind., is the father of U.S. Army SPC Matthew Frantz, who was killed in action on Jan. 20, 2006, when a roadside bomb exploded near his Humvee in Hawijah, Iraq. The elder Frantz stated one of his last meetings with his son was an outing to an Indianapolis Colts game at Lucas Oil Stadium before his son’s last tour.
Overview of veterans:
- U.S. Army SSG Jason K. Kokotkiewicz, retired, age 27, of Greenfield, Ind. SSG Kokotkiewicz, a decorated veteran, suffered a head wound on Jan. 27, 2007, from a rocket propelled grenade attack during a fire fight on the roof of a Police Station in Fallujah, Iraq.
- U.S. Army SSG Patrick Shannon, retired, age 41, of Indianapolis, was wounded in 2006 during mortar attack while serving in Iraq. Shannon lost vision in his left eye and suffered a traumatic brain injury.
Pre-Game “Tailgate” Party Honoring 50 Wounded and Recovering Marines
Rolls-Royce is also teaming up with Marine Foundation of Indiana, Inc. and the Hiram I. Bearss Detachment, #089, Marine Corps League, and the USO of Indiana to host over 40 wounded and recovering Marines assigned to the Wounded Warrior Regiment from across the country for a pre-game tailgate party at the Conrad Hotel Indianapolis. The event runs from noon until 4:30 p.m. on Feb. 5, 2012.
The active and retired Marines will enjoy pre-game television coverage, food and beverages, and celebrity stop-by appearances (by invitation only).
Additional support for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for these Marines includes hotel accommodations and airfare donated by the Semper Fi Fund. Tickets for the wounded Marines to attend the game were donated to the Marine Foundation by a professional football team.
Please contact Rolls-Royce communications to arrange interviews or speak with military public affairs staff.
- Rolls-Royce is a world-leading provider of power systems and services for use on land, at sea and in the air, and has established a strong position in global markets - civil aerospace, defense aerospace, marine and energy.
- As a result of this strategy, Rolls-Royce has a broad customer base comprising more than 500 airlines, 4,000 corporate and utility aircraft and helicopter operators, 160 armed forces, more than 4,000 marine customers, including 70 navies, and energy customers in nearly 120 countries, with an installed base of 54,000 gas turbines.
- Rolls-Royce employs 8,500 people in the U.S. and Canada, with the U.S. Department of Defense its largest military customer. Rolls-Royce provides engines and services to the U.S. Marine Corps, Air Force, Navy and Army, as well as the U.S. Coast Guard.
