Indianapolis Colts Salute to Service | Indianapolis Colts Community - colts.com
Salute to Service
Salute to Service represents the NFL's unwavering dedication to honoring, empowering, and connecting with our nation's service members, veterans, and their families. The Indianapolis Colts and Crown Royal are proud to support and show appreciation for the servicemen and women, veterans and military families who make and have made sacrifices to protect our country.
Salute to Service Pregame Event
Date: October 26th, 2025
Time: 2:00pm – Kickoff
Description: The Indianapolis Colts honored active military members and their families ahead of the Salute to Service game vs. Tennessee and featured heavy hors d'oeuvres, popcorn bags, Colts cheerleaders, mascot "Blue", and special guest speakers Pete Ward and Jack Thompson.
Salute to Service Flag Games Community Tuesday
Date: November 4th, 2025
Time: 4:00 p.m.
To honor Indiana and America's military members during the NFL's Salute to Service month, the Colts opened the doors to its headquarters at the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center to 60 active servicemembers from the Air Force, Army, Marines and Navy for friendly exhibition games of flag football.
Flags of Valor Community Tuesday
Date: November 18th, 2025
Time: 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
The Indianapolis Colts and Flags of Valor hosted Indiana "Gold Star Families," families of armed services members who lost their lives in the line of duty, for a special visit to Colts headquarters at the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center.
During the visit, the families were invited to construct a wooden flag in memory of their lost loved one alongside Colts players and Colts Cheerleaders.
VA Hospital Visit
Date: November 20th, 2025
Time: 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Colts staff and Colts Cheerleaders visited the Richard L. Roudebush Veterans' Administration Medical Center and handed out Colts care packages to Veteran patients.
Luke Rhodes 2025 Salute to Service Award
Date: October 29th, 2025
The Indianapolis Colts announced long snapper Luke Rhodes as the team's 2025 Salute to Service Award nominee. The Salute to Service Award recognizes NFL players, coaches, staff and alumni who make exceptional efforts to honor and support military and veteran communities.
Rhodes, over his 10 seasons with the Colts, has consistently honored, empowered and connected with servicemembers, veterans and their families. Rhodes was raised in a military household; his late father, Doug, attended the U.S. Naval Academy and served in the Marines as a helicopter pilot for 22 years, and Rhodes credits his father's service for teaching him the discipline and responsibility that helped launch his NFL career.
Rhodes has used Colts ticket blocks to bring active duty servicemembers and veterans, along with their families, to Lucas Oil Stadium for special game day experiences. Rhodes also has supported initiatives such as Children of Fallen Patriots through the NFL's "My Cause, My Cleats" program.
What's more, he has planned special field visits for military members to thank them, in person, for their service. Through those visits, Rhodes has strived to empower veterans and their families who may be struggling by letting them know resources exist, and he is someone who loves and cares about them. In the offseason, Rhodes completes the Murph Challenge, an intense workout that honors the legacy of Lt. Michael P. Murphy, helping grow an initiative close to the hearts of many servicemembers and veterans.
Salute to Service Content
Crown Royal Purple Bag Project
On select Colts gamedays, fans are invited to help pack a bag as a part of Crown Royal's Purple Bag Project. Crown Royal believes that it's not about what you have, but what you give and how you give it. Crown Royal is honored to partner with Packages From Home to turn donated Crown Royal Bags into care packages for active American military heroes around the world.
