This Saturday December 8th marks the playing of the annual Army-Navy game.
I must confess to not being much of a sports fan so I don’t generally watch. Although I never served there is a part of me that is partial to the Navy, though it is not as deeply seated of an loyalty as my ex-Navy friends hold.
However today one of those friends, a former US Navy submariner (if there is such a thing as a former submariner) made some excellent points to consider. This is more than just a game, it is a deep seated tradition in our nations history, first played in 1890. It is a time for both service rivalry and a time for coming together.
Indeed one of the best traditions comes at the end of the game where the anthems of the losing team and then the winning team are played and sung. The winning team stands alongside the losing team and faces the losing academy students; then the losing team accompanies the winning team, facing their students. This is done in a show of mutual respect and solidarity.
But there is also a more somber tradition that has evolved.
The players in these game are often seniors, which means they are about to enter military service. It is quite true that a man playing in the game today could find himself in combat by summer.
It is also true that by the time the game is played in 2013 that some of the players will have made the ultimate sacrifice. There is now a tradition that a deceased players jersey is placed on the sidelines as a memorial.
So even if you are not a fan it is worth taking some time to watch and to remember that not just the players but many of the fans in the stands will soon be placing themselves in harms way to protect you and those you love.
Some will not return.
We can all take a little time out of our weekend to honor that.