“Veterans’ Corner” host Dennis Penny emcees Military Appreciation Night at Devils-Islanders game at The Rock

When the New Jersey Devils hosted the New York Islanders and the team’s 15th annual Military Appreciation Night on Monday night, Rutgers and WRSU were represented by Dennis Penny, host of “The Veterans’ Corner” – heard Wednesdays at noon on WRSU – and a program coordinator and certifying official at the Rutgers Army ROTC.

Penny, an eight-year Navy veteran who served during the Operation Iraqi Freedom Campaign and was honored with several medals, drew in fans to the Military Appreciation Night display on the main concourse of the Prudential Center in Newark, sponsored by Prudential.

There, at the “Here For our Heroes” area, fans could write a note to troops overseas that would be shipped with over 2,000 care packages, add photos of their military heroes to the inspiring Hero Wall, and receive a set of two co-branded pins. They could also take a photo in front of an American flag made from red-white-and-blue painted hockey pucks.

The first 9,000 fans also received a green, camouflage New Jersey Devils cap. The 50/50 benefitted the New Jersey veterans’ Network

The North Jersey Recruiting Company also was on the upper concourse, customizing dog tags, handing out Army gear and lanyards, and allowing fans to interact with a medical dummy to learn more about Tactical Casualty Care.

The Devils lost to the Islanders in overtime, 3-2.

Click below for a photo gallery from the event: