In Milestone Anniversary Year, Army-Navy Rivalry Game Takes On New Layer of Meaning

Ahead of their highly anticipated match-up, members from both academies paid tribute this morning to the victims of 9/11 and the servicemen who defended our country in the aftermath. Fifty cadets and midshipmen gathered at the Survivor Tree for a joint wreath-laying ceremony, featuring performances by the U.S. Military Academy Glee Club and the U.S. Naval Academy Pipes & Drums.

The two teams received tremendous public support throughout their 2001 season, both home and on the road. They played their first post-9/11 game on December 1, 2001; it drew more television viewers than any college football game between 2000 and 2010.

"The 9/11 Memorial is not a place of sadness, but a place of resilience and unity. Twenty years ago, we were never more united as a country, and I personally felt that unity as neighbors and Americans across the country lifted my family after we lost our brother Jimmy on that day in the North Tower,” said Joe Quinn, one of our Visionaries in Service. 

He continued, “As a West Point grad, I'll be pulling for Army this weekend, but while Army and Navy will be adversaries on the football field, we'll be allies on the battlefield. After the game is over, and no matter who sings second, cadets, midshipmen, old grads, veterans, and great Americans will stand in unity, the way we stood together 20 years ago."

Tune in to CBS December 11 at 3 pm ET to watch this rivalry play out on the football field.

By 9/11 Memorial Staff