Kansas honors WWII veterans with alternate uniforms at Salute to Service game Nov. 3
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas football will pay homage to veterans of World War II by wearing alternate uniforms in its annual Salute to Service game, which will take place Saturday, Nov. 3 against Iowa State at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium.
The uniforms have several markings that directly honor World War II veterans, including a patch on the front of the jersey that reads “KU WWII Vets”, along with a patch of the KU World War II Memorial Campanile on the back of the jersey.
Honoring the veterans of World War II.
We’re repping some new uniforms that pay homage to those that lost their life in the line of duty during WWII on Saturday against Iowa State.
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The World War II Memorial Campanile is unquestionably the most distinguished landmark at the University of Kansas. It was constructed in 1950 to honor the 277 students and faculty who died serving their country in World War II. Their names are engraved in the Virginia Greenstone on the east and west walls of the Memorial Room at the base of the tower. The panels on the south doors of the Memorial Room evoke the emotions and tragedies of war, while those on the north doors depict the history of Kansas and the ideals toward which the University and humanity continually strive.
In addition, the jerseys feature a striped blue-and-red shoulder pattern that was worn by the Kansas football team in the 1940s. Noteworthy Jayhawks who have worn these stripes include College Football Hall of Fame inductee Ray Evans and fellow 1947 All-American Otto Schnellbacher, both of whom put their playing careers on hold to join the United States Army Air Corps during the war.
Many soldiers with ties to both the University of Kansas and the state of Kansas displayed their pride during combat. Primarily, combat pilots showed their Kansas pride by painting “Jayhawk” on their planes and naming them after the mascot. The alternate uniform font of the word Jayhawk mirrors the one used on the fighter planes. The jersey is a white and light gray pattern, an ode to the color of the Jayhawk fighter planes.
Mimicking the fighter planes that had Jayhawks painted on them, the helmets KU will wear against Iowa State have the 1941 Jayhawk superimposed over a sheet metal texture.
The uniform pants are a solid blue with a white KU, in the same font used on the 1941 Jayhawk, on the right hip.
Kansas and Iowa State will kick off at 11 a.m., with a live broadcast on FOX Sports Net. For information regarding tickets contact the Kansas Sales Team at 800-34-HAWKS or visit KUTickets.com.
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