BUTLER TWP — Art Bernardi Stadium will play host to more than Butler’s season-opening high school football game Aug. 26.

It will host a celebration of the military community.

Retired Major General Peter Talleri, a 1975 Butler graduate and former Golden Tornado football player, will be honored for his 34 years of service to the United States Marine Corps by the Butler Football Hometown Hero organization before the game.

All military veterans — including those active in the armed forces — will be welcomed into the game at no charge. Each will be presented a sticker to wear as they enter the gate and they will be recognized as a group at some point during the evening.

And Butler’s players and coaches will be wearing camouflage jerseys and special shirts in recognition of the evening’s theme.

“I think this is fantastic,” Butler head coach Eric Christy said. “High school football games bring the community together and who better to come together to honor than the military.

“Veterans have been so giving of their lives. Some didn’t make it home. If we can provide a platform to show these people how much they’re appreciated, that’s something we should do.”

Christy said his grandfather was in the Marines.

“When I attended his funeral and they played Taps, all of the military personnel there to honor him ... It hit me how revered military veterans are and should be,” he said.

Butler assistant coach Chris Sedgwick serves in the National Guard. He spent 2004-06 in Iraq. His father was in the Air Force for 20 years and his grandfather served in the Navy.

“My family background steered me toward the military, sure,” Sedgwick said. “But I also needed to grow up. I was very immature and had it not been for my military service ... I was headed down a wrong path and probably would have kept going along that path.

“Over in Iraq, I grew up pretty quick. The service taught me about mental toughness and respect. It changed my life.”

Sedgwick added that he was nervous during basic training. Those nerves came to the surface when a colonel walked by him.

Sedgwick delivered a rather nervous salute.

“The colonel returned it and said, ‘Private, I put my pants on one leg at a time, just like you.’ He put me at ease. I’ve never forgotten that,” Sedgwick said.

A number of Butler football players have relatives who have served or are currently serving the country.

Senior lineman Ethan Babay’s grandfather served in Korea and his uncle was in the Persian Gulf War.

“My uncle was injured in an explosion there,” Babay said. “He lost some limbs and doesn’t talk about his experiences there very much. But I know he’s proud and I’m proud of him.

“These are special people. They put their lives on the line for us. A show of appreciation like this is the least we can do.”

Tornado senior Kellen Rakoci has an older brother in the National Guard and his grandfather served in Vietnam.

“They take time out of their lives, are put into dangerous situations, to protect our country,” Rakoci said. “These are courageous people. I’m excited to be a part of this.”

So, too, are Butler seniors Matt Rees and Cooper McTighe. Rees has an uncle in the military and a grandfather who served in Vietnam. McTighe has an uncle in the marines and a cousin in the Air Force.

“I understand why a lot of veterans don’t want to talk about their experiences in combat,” Rees said. “I was told a story of how some American soldiers went into a family home to protect and were suddenly attacked by enemy fire. Little kids were killed in the cross-fire.

“Those things are real. They’re life-changing. Many soldiers don’t come back. We should cherish the ones who do.”

McTighe agreed.

“They fight for our country, for what we have,” he said. “Supporting them is just the right thing to do.”

Christy took it one step farther.

“It’s a privilege to be part of this ... an absolute honor,” he said.