When a football field is not just a football field!!!

I came across this blurb as I was reading the bagillion emails and articles in my inbox. 

It's about last weekend's game, but I thought it was so inidicative of how military folks see things.... even a football field. 

God Bless our Troops and

 Go Navy!  Go Army!!  Go Air Force!!! Go Marines!!!! and

 Go Coast Guard!!!!! 

 May you all be safe.

MEADOWLANDS CHRISTENING: Now we know why Navy played so well against Notre Dame on Saturday at The New Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. On Friday following the pregame walk-through, the Midshipmen officially christened the field at the new National Football League stadium, which serves as home to the New York Giants and New York Jets.


Niumatalolo obtained some sand from Iwo Jima that had been given to Navy lacrosse coach Richie Meade by former All American midfielder Steve Looney.

Capt. Bryce McDonald, the military liaison officer to the football team, had some dirt from Afghanistan that was collected from a battlefield by Andy Thompson, defensive captain of the 1995 Navy football team.

Following practice on Friday, the players and coaches gathered in a circle to formally christen The Meadowlands as a Navy home field.

Col. John Kennedy, the Naval Academy Marine Corps representative, talked about Iwo Jima then sprinkled the sand from that Pacific island that was the site of the famous photograph of Marines raising the American flag following a fierce battle. McDonald, a Purple Heart recipient who was injured while fighting in the Middle East, discussed the current conflict in Afghanistan before sprinkling the dirt from that country.

"It was a very memorable moment for the entire team and really brought home what this place is all about," Niumatalolo said. "That was one of those times that reminded me how special it is to be the head coach at the Naval Academy."

It was particularly poignant considering that Navy was playing just outside New York City, which was so affected by the terrorist attack of Sept. 11, 2001 when the World Trade Center was destroyed.
 
"Last week was pretty special. I can remember looking out from my hotel room and seeing the skyline of New York City, but then you notice that void where the Twin Towers used to be" Niumatalolo said. "It just reminded me that these young men on our football team voluntarily came to the Naval Academy at a time when we are engaged in two wars."