NEWS RELEASE

Office of External Communications

Houston, TX 77204-5017 Fax: 713.743.8199

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 7, 2007

Contact: Contact: Mike Emery
713.743.8186 (office)
713.415.6551 (pager)
pemery@uh.edu
SUPPORT FOR VETERANS AT HEART OF UH ROTC VALENTINE’S JOG

The University of Houston Air Force and Army ROTC detachments want to get hearts pumping on Feb. 14. On a day typically marked by flowers and chocolates, UH cadets will show their admiration for veterans in the university’s first-ever Valentine’s Day Jog with the Troops to Support the Troops.

This event is part of the National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans Week and will consist of a three-mile formation jog around the UH campus. The public is invited to join the UH cadets, who will be accompanied by the San Jacinto Chapter of the Air Force Association and the UH’s Veterans’ Services office.

The jog will begin at 6 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 14 in the parking lot outside of UH’s Garrison Gymnasium on Holman Street. Following the event, participants can sign Valentine’s Day cards that will be sent with other items to homeless veterans who are residing at DeGeorge at Union Station Veteran’s Home and injured veterans at the Michel E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center.

The jog is free. Donations will be accepted and will go toward DeGeorge at Union Station and the VA Medical Center.

“We’d like to extend an invitation to the public, as well as active duty military, veterans, reservists, national guard and retired military, to get up early and run with us to show gratitude for those who have fought for the freedoms that we have long enjoyed,” said Col. Philip A. Bossert Jr., commander of UH’s Air Force ROTC.

For more information about the Valentine’s Day Jog, call 713-743-4932.

The Air Force and Army ROTC programs are part of the UH’s College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences. Their goal is to provide cadets the education and training necessary to become second lieutenants in the United States military. These ROTC programs also serve students at Rice University, Texas Southern University, the University of St. Thomas, UH Downtown and other colleges in the Houston area.

WHAT: “Valentine’s Day Jog with the Troops to Support the Troops”
WHEN: 6 – 7 a.m., Wednesday, Feb. 14
WHERE: University of Houston - Garrison Hall Parking Lot
3855 Holman St.
Houston, TX 77004
WHO: UH AFROTC Detachment 003, UH Army ROTC, UH Veterans’ Services Office, Air Force Association

For more information about UH visit the university’s ‘Newsroom’ at www.uh.edu/admin/media/newsroom.