El Segundo-On November 8th, 2016 the Los Angeles Lakers celebrated Veterans at their home game vs. the Dallas Mavericks. Upon entering the arena fans were greeted by members of UCLA’s U.S. Army ROTC program. The men and women in uniform handed fans Military-themed Lakers camouflage hats and Lakers dog tags.
While the fans entered, they also had the opportunity to stop by the Lakers Operation Gratitude booth. Operation Gratitude is an organization that annually sends more than 200,000 care packages filled with food, entertainment, hygiene, and handmade items, and personal letters of appreciation to Veterans, First Responders, New Recruits, Wounded Heroes, their Care Givers, and to individually named U.