FOR USE AS DESIRED
NFL-70 11/1/00

The five NFL owners who served in the military during World War II – BUD ADAMS (Tennessee), TOM BENSON (New Orleans), WELLINGTON MARA (New York Giants), ED MC CASKEY (Chicago) and RALPH WILSON (Buffalo) – have been invited by the American Battle Monuments Commission to attend groundbreaking ceremonies on Veterans Day (November 11) for the National World War II Memorial in Washington, DC.

The five owners and NFL Commissioner PAUL TAGLIABUE strongly endorsed the $1 million contribution that NFL Charities made last year on behalf of all the clubs towards the construction of the memorial -- the first national memorial dedicated to the U.S. citizens who served during World War II.

"All the NFL owners – those who served as well as those who were too young to be there – recognize the tremendous contributions of World War II veterans," says Benson, who served in the Pacific on the USS South Dakota during the war. "The memorial will be a fitting tribute to the men and women who were there when their country needed them."

The groundbreaking ceremony on November 11 will be at the Rainbow Pool site of the memorial that will be positioned between the Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument.

More than 16 million citizens served in the U.S. armed forces during WW II, including more than 400,000 who died. The war has been called the "defining event of the 20th century."

One present-day NFL player knows the military well – rookie running back MIKE ANDERSON of the Denver Broncos.

This year’s oldest rookie (27) and the AFC’s fifth-leading rusher (676 yards), Anderson did not play high school football in Fairfield, SC. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps for four years after high school, and was eventually sent to Somalia in 1994 on a peace-keeping mission. Anderson’s first taste of organized football was on the Marine base at Camp Pendleton in California, where his coach made him carry a football during Marine training missions. He then went on to play for Mt. San Jacinto (Calif.) College and then Utah before being drafted in the sixth round this year by Denver.

Before his third game this season, Anderson was warming up on the field before kickoff. He looked over to the sideline and spotted four Marines in a color guard who were preparing to take part in pregame ceremonies. All four Marines saluted him.

"They were probably thinking the same thing I was thinking," said Anderson. "That I was one of them. That felt really good."

Many NFL teams will conduct festivities honoring the U.S. military at their games of Sunday, November 12, the day after Veterans Day. A sampling:

BUFFALO BILLS: Will induct the only active NFL player killed in the Vietnam War, Bills guard BOB KALSU (1968), onto its Wall of Fame, the team’s highest honor, at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Kalsu, an Army second lieutenant, was killed by motor fire defending an isolated mountaintop in Vietnam’s Ashua Valley.

"He lost his life for our country, so we figured the highest honor we could give to him was to put his name on our Wall of Fame," says Bills owner Wilson. "He was a fine young man."

Attending will be Kalsu’s widow, JAN, and his two grown children.

CAROLINA PANTHERS: Will conduct a "Massing of the Colors" in pregame ceremonies that includes 250 veterans of all branches of the armed forces.

Military jets will fly over the stadium at the conclusion of the national anthem. The Panthers’ entire pre- and halftime program will be devoted to the military, with special recognition of Korean War veterans in the 50th anniversary year of the beginning of that war.

CLEVELAND BROWNS: All five military branches will be represented as a color guard during the national anthem.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS: Will salute the military in numerous ways.

A total of 1,500 seats will be sold exclusively to military personnel and their families. Pregame: A re-enlistment ceremony of 100 Navy personnel will be held on the field…a 21-gun salute prior to the national anthem will honor fallen military personnel…the Navy Band Jacksonville will perform the anthem…Two color guards will stand at the anthem – the U.S. Joint Forces Color Guard, and the China-Burma-India Veterans Association Color Guard (in the 53rd anniversary of the CBI War)…the anthem will conclude with a military fly-over.

At halftime, a U.S. Marine Corps silent drill platoon will perform. Throughout the game, the ALLTEL Stadium Jumbotron screen will flash messages from U.S. military personnel stationed overseas.

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS: Embarked this year on a full-scale military program entitled the "New Orleans Saints/Joint Partnership."

Saints owner Tom Benson said the basis of the partnership with the military is to conduct positive programs for the 8,700 personnel stationed in the New Orleans area. "I think our military needs all the support it can get today," says Benson.

There are multiple aspects to the program. For example, military personnel receive discounted tickets to Saints games this year. And a complete Military Appreciation Day is planned for the Saints’ November 19 game that will include fly-overs over the Louisiana Superdome before the game, military-band performances, displays and recruiting set-ups. Military personnel will also be asked to wear their uniforms to the game.

Future plans of the Partnership include projects such as military-award ceremonies at games, non-profit programs in the community, and mentoring efforts with the Big Brothers and the military’s Adopt-A-School program.

NEW YORK GIANTS: Army Sargent Major JACK TILLEY will be honorary captain for the coin toss and will use a commemorative Korean War coin.

An eight-man parachute team will land on the field immediately before kickoff carrying a Korean War flag. Four Navy jets will fly over Giants Stadium at the conclusion of the national anthem, sung by a military representative in front of a full color guard. There also will be a fly-over at the conclusion of halftime. Additionally, armed forces recruiting tables will be set up at each stadium gate.

NEW YORK JETS: Conducted a Military Appreciation Day earlier in the season.

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES: Will position a large American flag on the field during the singing of the national anthem. There will also be a salute to the U.S. Army, a moment of silence, and an Air Force fly-over. Also, a U.S. Marine silent drill platoon will perform at halftime.

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS: Team cheerleaders have already visited Veterans Hospitals in Seattle and Tacoma as part of the Seahawks’ "Honoring Our Veterans" program.

In pregame ceremonies, there will be a University of Washington Tri-Service Color Guard presenting the colors. Petty Officer 3rd Class TOM HORNER from the Navy Sub Base Bangor will perform the national anthem. This will be followed by a fly-over with four EA-6B Prowlers in formation.

At halftime, there will be six ROTC drill teams performing representing the Army, Navy and Air Force, with a 30-foot American flag unfurled. The Emerald City Swing Dancers will perform to "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" in authentic military uniforms dating back to WW II.

The Seahawks are also inviting five veterans from each military branch to be honored for their service to the country.

TENNESSEE TITANS: In pregame ceremonies, a giant American flag will cover the entire field as the anthem is sung. At least 125 members of the Tennessee Army National Guard will unfurl and hold the flag. During the anthem, a B-2 Stealth bomber will fly over the stadium.

At halftime, the Fort Campbell Band will perform with an honor guard from each of the five military branches. When the band plays a particular branch’s hymn, that branch’s honor guard will step forward and veterans from that service branch will be invited to stand and be applauded.

At the end of halftime ceremonies, the Screaming Eagles Parachute Team from Fort Campbell will stream into the stadium.