“Red, White, Blue and You” is the theme for this year’s Homecoming celebration in which veterans will be honored through different activities.

On Nov. 8, UT will host a “Salute to Veterans” at the Civic Auditorium’s ballroom from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The featured speaker is Lt. Gen. Dennis D. Calvin, a UT Martin graduate. WBIR’s anchor emeritus Bill Williams will also speak at the event.

The salute will have plenty of musical entertainment, with Miss Tennessee Valli Kugler who will sing a couple of songs as well as the Al Curtis Band and the UT Singers. The Air Force ROTC Color Guard will also be on hand.

Tickets to the event are $25, and heavy hors d’oeuvres will be served.

In addition to Friday’s salute, veterans will take part in the parade and will be recognized at the game’s half-time.

Alumni will hold their annual “Party in the Park” to begin at 11:30 a.m. Friday in Circle Park.

“Thanks to the generosity of Buddy’s bar-b-q, Purity and Coca-Cola the event will be bigger than ever,” Moore said. “In addition to tailgate-style food, there will be entertainment for all.”

Although Homecoming always honors a couple of classes, this is the first year for a group of constituents.

“We felt like the time was right,” Moore said. “The spirit of patriotism is high, and so many of (UT) alumni are veterans. We are letting the veterans in our community know that we appreciate the time (they) served our country.”