Completed Event: Football versus Troy on December 5, 2025 , Win , 31, to, 14
FB
Final
James Madison
31
vs Troy
14
James Madison University | Official Athletics Site
JMU Recognizes Heroes During Saturday's Game
9/22/2014 4:17:00 PM | Football, Promotions
At Saturday's football game against Delaware, JMU will celebrate Heroes Day, recognizing military, police, fire and other first responders. Qualifying personnel can receive a complimentary ticket to the game and additional tickets at a discounted rate by calling the JMU Athletic Ticket Office (Monday - Friday, 9 a.m.- 5 p.m.). In addition, JMU will recognize several local heroes throughout the game and feature themes and promotions throughout gameday celebrating Americas Heroes.
Among the dignitaries, JMU is proud to be recognizing four JMU alumni and successful military servicemen. Retired Lieutenant General Raymond Mason served as the highest ranking logistician for the United States Army and was instrumental in the creation of JMU's first ROTC program. He will be joined on the field by Rear Admiral Sinclair Harris, a 1981 graduate, and the Vice Director for Operations on the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Rear Admiral Christopher Murray, a "Double-Duke" in 1982 and 1983 serves as the Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations (J3), JFC Naples. Joining them on the field will be Colonel Reginald Hairston, a 1988 graduate, currently serving on the Joint Staff as the Division Chief, Human Capital Division at the Pentagon.
JMU will also be recognizing several local police, fire and first responder personnel during the game that serve the Harrisonburg and Rockingham communities. Among the local heroes, JMU will recognize Rockingham County Sheriff Bryan Hutchinson as well as JMU alumnus and Deputy Fire Chief for the Harrisonburg Fire Department Ian Bennett.Â
"JMU is fortunate to have such distinguished alumni serve our country and community. To be able to invite them back and recognize them at a game is a great honor that we're excited to share with our fans," said Stephen Pugh, director of athletic marketing. In addition to the recognitions on the field, the University Outpost Fan Zone will also feature a Heroes theme. Fans will be able to take part in the JMU ROTC pugile stick ring, as well as tour a military Humvee. Service vehicles will also be on hand from the Rockingham County Sheriff's Office, Harrisonburg Police and Fire Departments and the Harrisonburg Rescue Squad.
The Dukes take on Delaware on Saturday, September 27th at 4 p.m.  Tickets are available at jmusports.com/tickets or by calling (540) 568-3853. Individual game tickets start at $27.Â
Extended Military Bios
Lieutenant General Raymond Mason
Retired Lieutenant General Raymond Mason was the highest-ranking logistician for the United States Army. He led a force of more than 55,000 military, government civilians and contract workers to provide fuel, food and other support services to more than 200,000 deployed forces. His impact while he was at JMU was just as significant as he was instrumental in the creation of JMU's first ROTC program in 1976. His graduation from JMU in 1978 and commissioning as a second lieutenant was the beginning of a distinguished 36-year military career. LTG Mason's awards and decorations include the Army Distinguished Service Medal (1 Oak Leaf Cluster), Defense Superior Service Medal (1 Oak Leaf Cluster), Legion of Merit (2 Oak Leaf Clusters), Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (5 Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Commendation Medal (3 Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Achievement Medal (1 Oak Leaf Cluster), Master Parachutist Badge, Parachutist Rigger Badge, Australian Jump Wings, Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge and the Army Staff Identification Badge.Â
Rear Admiral Sinclair Harris
Rear Admiral Sinclair Harris, a 1981 graduate of James Madison University with a degree in economics, is the Vice Director for Operations on the Joint Chiefs of Staff. His early sea assignments included tours aboard five vessels, and he commanded USS Comstock (LSD 45) during Operation Enduring Freedom and Amphibious Squadron 4/Iwo Jima Strike Group during humanitarian assistance and disaster relief – Hurricanes Katrina/Rita in 2005 and non-combative evacuation operation of Lebanon in 2006. He has held a number of posts in Washington D.C. over the past eight years. Among his decorations, Harris has received the Distinguished Service Medal Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, and various other unit and campaign awards.
Rear Admiral Christopher Murray
Rear Admiral Christopher Murray, a Springfield, Virginia, native, graduated from JMU in 1982 with a degree in business administration and a master's in business administration in 1983. He currently serves as Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations (J3), JFC Naples. He proceeded to complete Aviation Officer Candidate School and serve in numerous F-14 squadrons. He served as Commanding Officer of VF-143 Pukin Dogs from October 2001 to July 2004 where he participated in Operation Enduring Freedom. His awards include the Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, seven Battle Efficiency awards and various other personal achievement awards, service awards and ribbons.
Colonel Reginald Hairston
Colonel Hairston graduated James Madison University in May 1988 with a Bachelor of Science in psychology. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1988 through the Delayed Entry Program and in May 1989 began basic training at Parris Island, S.C. After graduating Boot Camp and follow-on training he was ordered to Okinawa, Japan for duty with 3d Combat Engineer Battalion. In 1991, he was accepted to Officer Candidate School via the Enlisted Commissioning Program. Colonel Hairston is currently stationed at the Pentagon and serves on the Joint Staff as the Division Chief, Human Capital Division. Colonel Hairston is slated to relocate to California in July 2015 to assume command of Security Battalion, Camp Pendleton, California. Colonel Hairston's personal decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (3d award), Navy Commendation Medal (3d award) and the Navy Achievement Medal.
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Among the dignitaries, JMU is proud to be recognizing four JMU alumni and successful military servicemen. Retired Lieutenant General Raymond Mason served as the highest ranking logistician for the United States Army and was instrumental in the creation of JMU's first ROTC program. He will be joined on the field by Rear Admiral Sinclair Harris, a 1981 graduate, and the Vice Director for Operations on the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Rear Admiral Christopher Murray, a "Double-Duke" in 1982 and 1983 serves as the Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations (J3), JFC Naples. Joining them on the field will be Colonel Reginald Hairston, a 1988 graduate, currently serving on the Joint Staff as the Division Chief, Human Capital Division at the Pentagon.
JMU will also be recognizing several local police, fire and first responder personnel during the game that serve the Harrisonburg and Rockingham communities. Among the local heroes, JMU will recognize Rockingham County Sheriff Bryan Hutchinson as well as JMU alumnus and Deputy Fire Chief for the Harrisonburg Fire Department Ian Bennett.Â
"JMU is fortunate to have such distinguished alumni serve our country and community. To be able to invite them back and recognize them at a game is a great honor that we're excited to share with our fans," said Stephen Pugh, director of athletic marketing. In addition to the recognitions on the field, the University Outpost Fan Zone will also feature a Heroes theme. Fans will be able to take part in the JMU ROTC pugile stick ring, as well as tour a military Humvee. Service vehicles will also be on hand from the Rockingham County Sheriff's Office, Harrisonburg Police and Fire Departments and the Harrisonburg Rescue Squad.
The Dukes take on Delaware on Saturday, September 27th at 4 p.m.  Tickets are available at jmusports.com/tickets or by calling (540) 568-3853. Individual game tickets start at $27.Â
Extended Military Bios
Lieutenant General Raymond Mason
Retired Lieutenant General Raymond Mason was the highest-ranking logistician for the United States Army. He led a force of more than 55,000 military, government civilians and contract workers to provide fuel, food and other support services to more than 200,000 deployed forces. His impact while he was at JMU was just as significant as he was instrumental in the creation of JMU's first ROTC program in 1976. His graduation from JMU in 1978 and commissioning as a second lieutenant was the beginning of a distinguished 36-year military career. LTG Mason's awards and decorations include the Army Distinguished Service Medal (1 Oak Leaf Cluster), Defense Superior Service Medal (1 Oak Leaf Cluster), Legion of Merit (2 Oak Leaf Clusters), Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (5 Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Commendation Medal (3 Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Achievement Medal (1 Oak Leaf Cluster), Master Parachutist Badge, Parachutist Rigger Badge, Australian Jump Wings, Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge and the Army Staff Identification Badge.Â
Rear Admiral Sinclair Harris
Rear Admiral Sinclair Harris, a 1981 graduate of James Madison University with a degree in economics, is the Vice Director for Operations on the Joint Chiefs of Staff. His early sea assignments included tours aboard five vessels, and he commanded USS Comstock (LSD 45) during Operation Enduring Freedom and Amphibious Squadron 4/Iwo Jima Strike Group during humanitarian assistance and disaster relief – Hurricanes Katrina/Rita in 2005 and non-combative evacuation operation of Lebanon in 2006. He has held a number of posts in Washington D.C. over the past eight years. Among his decorations, Harris has received the Distinguished Service Medal Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, and various other unit and campaign awards.
Rear Admiral Christopher Murray
Rear Admiral Christopher Murray, a Springfield, Virginia, native, graduated from JMU in 1982 with a degree in business administration and a master's in business administration in 1983. He currently serves as Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations (J3), JFC Naples. He proceeded to complete Aviation Officer Candidate School and serve in numerous F-14 squadrons. He served as Commanding Officer of VF-143 Pukin Dogs from October 2001 to July 2004 where he participated in Operation Enduring Freedom. His awards include the Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, seven Battle Efficiency awards and various other personal achievement awards, service awards and ribbons.
Colonel Reginald Hairston
Colonel Hairston graduated James Madison University in May 1988 with a Bachelor of Science in psychology. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1988 through the Delayed Entry Program and in May 1989 began basic training at Parris Island, S.C. After graduating Boot Camp and follow-on training he was ordered to Okinawa, Japan for duty with 3d Combat Engineer Battalion. In 1991, he was accepted to Officer Candidate School via the Enlisted Commissioning Program. Colonel Hairston is currently stationed at the Pentagon and serves on the Joint Staff as the Division Chief, Human Capital Division. Colonel Hairston is slated to relocate to California in July 2015 to assume command of Security Battalion, Camp Pendleton, California. Colonel Hairston's personal decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (3d award), Navy Commendation Medal (3d award) and the Navy Achievement Medal.
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