03/11/2026
Armed Forces Appreciation Day at RODEOHOUSTON honors the brave men and women who have served in the United States military, bringing the Houston community together to recognize both active-duty service members and veterans.
This year’s event began with a special flyover of five Apache helicopters from Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment based at Fort Hood, Texas. The event also welcomed members of the Greatest Generation, including a 102-year-old World War II veteran. In total, more than 4,000 military personnel from Fort Hood, Fort Polk, and NAS Corpus Christi were served, along with 500 recruits who were sworn into service that day.
Thank you to Chairman of the Board Pat Mann Phillips and her incredible team for putting on an unforgettable experience, and to Chris Alexander and Crown Royal for supporting the Purple Bag Project, which transforms the brand’s iconic purple bags into care packages for soldiers and veterans as a reminder of our nation’s gratitude.
Finally, to the men and women of the United States Armed Forces, thank you for the sacrifice and dedication you show in service to our country.