WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Wake Forest's season opener against Radford at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 11, will also be the Demon Deacons' fourth annual Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Classic. The Deacons will honor active duty and retired military personnel at the game, including offering free tickets to veterans and their families.
To secure tickets, U.S. active personnel, veterans of any military service branch, retired military members or their family representatives should visit the designated table that will be set up in the LJVM Coliseum lobby the night of the game. Military I.D. must be presented to receive tickets.
In addition to providing free tickets, Wake Forest will recognize veterans and military personnel with announcements during the game.
The game is the nightcap of a season-opening Wake Forest basketball doubleheader. The Demon Deacon women’s basketball team hosts Navy in its season opener at 4 p.m., with military and veterans also receiving free admission to that game.
The game honors Winston-Salem's first and only Medal of Honor recipient, U.S. Army Sergeant First Class Lawrence Joel, who has long been recognized as a symbol of valor.
Joel, a medic during the Korean and Vietnam Wars, was awarded the Medal of Honor and the Silver Star on November 8, 1965 for his heroism in a battle with the Viet Cong. Despite being wounded twice himself, he treated more than a dozen wounded soldiers and was credited with saving the life of one who had sustained a serious wound.
Presented the Medal of Honor by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1967, Joel became the first living black American to receive the medal since the Spanish-American War in 1898. Joel passed away in 1984 and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
Wake Forest defeated UMBC 83-77 in last year’s LJVM Classic game.
To secure tickets, U.S. active personnel, veterans of any military service branch, retired military members or their family representatives should visit the designated table that will be set up in the LJVM Coliseum lobby the night of the game. Military I.D. must be presented to receive tickets.
In addition to providing free tickets, Wake Forest will recognize veterans and military personnel with announcements during the game.
The game is the nightcap of a season-opening Wake Forest basketball doubleheader. The Demon Deacon women’s basketball team hosts Navy in its season opener at 4 p.m., with military and veterans also receiving free admission to that game.
The game honors Winston-Salem's first and only Medal of Honor recipient, U.S. Army Sergeant First Class Lawrence Joel, who has long been recognized as a symbol of valor.
Joel, a medic during the Korean and Vietnam Wars, was awarded the Medal of Honor and the Silver Star on November 8, 1965 for his heroism in a battle with the Viet Cong. Despite being wounded twice himself, he treated more than a dozen wounded soldiers and was credited with saving the life of one who had sustained a serious wound.
Presented the Medal of Honor by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1967, Joel became the first living black American to receive the medal since the Spanish-American War in 1898. Joel passed away in 1984 and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
Wake Forest defeated UMBC 83-77 in last year’s LJVM Classic game.
