HOUSTON – On Wednesday, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo celebrated Armed Forces Appreciation Day to honor the brave men and women who serve in the United States Military.
The Armed Forces Appreciation Committee organized lunch and entertainment from the Marine Forces Reserve Band in the Hideout. Over 4,400 military members and veterans attended from all across the state.
There was also a Junior ROTC team performance and a joint service swearing-in and re-enlistment ceremony with more than 500 young men and women at the Junction Stage. The day finished with the U.S. Army Special Forces rappelling an American flag. There was free admission into NRG Park for military members and for family members, with a military ID or in uniform.
The Armed Forces Appreciation Committee has 200 volunteers that worked to coordinate the celebration. John Grimes, the vice president of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, said the celebration is an important element of the Rodeo and the community as a whole.
“[The celebration] is about preserving our freedoms,” Grimes said. “We can’t enjoy the 21 days of our show or the barbeque cookoff without living free. The least we could do is to set aside this day and honor them.”
People were encouraged to dress in red, white, and blue to show appreciation for the troops.