St. Ignace basketball players honored military veterans with a lasagna dinner before the Saints basketball game Thursday, December 22. Veterans included John Ruegg, Art Pechta, Jack Riness, Shirley Bentgen, Ray Walker, Walt North, Gary Olsen, Rick Litzner, Al Lester, Doug Kivet, Don McKinnon, John Monville, Ron Dahms, Norm Smith, and Marv Winkelman, along with Saints head coach Doug Ingalls, assistant coach Steve MacDonald, and players Garrett Becker, Justin Emery, James Peterson, Dan Olsen, Kyle O'Boyle, Zach Pierson, Ben Matelski, Jake Weiss, Lewis Mullins, and Brad Silet. Military veterans and their spouses were honored before the St. Ignace basketball game Thursday, December 22, and it was alumni night at LaSalle High School as former Saints athletes and band members returned home for the holiday break.

The Saints varsity basketball players served 15 veterans and nine spouses a lasagna dinner and the team joined the group for their meal prior to the Escanaba game.

Veterans included John Ruegg, Art Pechta, Jack Riness, Gary Olsen, Don McKinnon, John Monville, Norm Smith, and Ron Dahms, Shirley Bentgen, Walt North, Rick Litzner, Al Lester, Doug Kivet, and Marv Winkelman.

Left Photograph: Saints basketball players (from left) Kyle O'Boyle, Brad Silet, Assistant Coach Steve MacDonald, and Jake Weiss introduce themselves and serve dinner to Jack Riness and Mae Riness during a dinner to honor military veterans. This will be an annual event sponsored by St. Ignace varsity basketball program. "It was a pleasure for the team to host this event and we were pleased with the turnout," said Saints Coach Doug Ingalls, who pointed out it was the first time they had hosted the meal. "We will make this an annual event."

Former LaSalle athletes and band members were in attendance and alumni musicians joined in with the present band to perform pre-game and halftime music.

"This is a special game this close to the holiday break that brings alumni back," said Athletic Director Marty Spencer.