On Friday, May 26, San Diego Wave’s Military Appreciation Night was presented by PenFed Credit Union, which is the second-largest federal credit union in the nation. The event was held at Snapdragon Stadium and featured various military activities. Additionally, 1,000 military members and their families were invited to attend the match.
“PenFed is proud to support the national military and defense community every day since our founding over 88 years ago,” said PenFed President/CEO James Schenck. “It was an honor to partner with the Wave to show appreciation for the many veterans and active-duty service members and their families in the San Diego region.”
The match began with a special flyover from the U.S. Navy all-female pilot squadron after the National Anthem. Prior to the game, the Wave’s first-team players visited the U.S. Navy base on Coronado to meet with the pilot squadron. The pre-game ceremony included an honorary coin toss featuring two Wave staff who are current or transitioning military members.
During the game, the Military Hero of the Match was recognized and honored on the video board. At halftime, 12 Marines and support staff representing the first gender-integrated platoon at MCRD SD in 2021 were acknowledged on-field.
PenFed is a military-friendly company and donates up to 2% of its annual net income to charitable organizations, with most of the funding going to military charities. The PenFed Foundation, a national 501(c)3 founded by PenFed Credit Union in 2001, has provided more than $40 million in financial support to veterans, active-duty service members, families, and caregivers.
