FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE CONTACT:
NFL 9/19/01
BRIAN McCARTHY, NFL, 212-450-2069
MCCARTHYB@NFL.COM
NFL TO HONOR VICTIMS, HEROES AND SALUTE AMERICA
AT THIS WEEKEND’S GAMES
NFL teams, players and
fans will participate in special activities during Sunday and Monday night
games to honor the victims of last week’s terrorism and salute the heroes
of the rescue and recovery mission, NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue
announced today.
“The NFL is part of
American life,” said Commissioner Tagliabue. “We play one role in the
healing process by playing our games, honoring the victims and heroes, and
by saluting brotherhood, diversity and tolerance.”
Among the planned
activities:
- All NFL players will
wear a special American flag decal (1 7/8” x 1 ¼”) on the lower right
back of their helmets for the rest of the season. Players, coaching and
other personnel from all teams will also wear on the sidelines team caps
with the flag imprinted on the right side panel for the rest of the
season. The caps are for game use only and are not for sale.
- All game telecasts
Sunday afternoon will open with a 60-second piece prepared by NFL Films
recognizing the unprecedented events of the past week. The piece will
also air in the stadiums.
- The NFL will also tape
this week with national recording artists two special presentations of
“America the Beautiful” that will air in stadiums and on all CBS and FOX
telecasts prior to kickoff during the Sunday afternoon games. The
Sunday night game on ESPN and Monday Night Football on ABC will also
feature presentations of the song with additional national performers.
- A moment of silence
will be observed before each game this weekend.
- This weekend’s home
teams will arrange for local and national artists to perform the
“Star-Spangled Banner,” accompanied by volunteer members of the
community.
- The coin toss ceremony
will include local volunteer groups as honorary captains.
- A giant American flag
or “Stars and Stripes” display will be unfurled by members of local
volunteer groups at each stadium during pregame for the singing of
“America the Beautiful,” and the “Star-Spangled Banner.”
- All fans attending NFL
games will receive American flags (4’ by 6’). The NFL has purchased 1
million flags to pass out at home games. Those teams not playing at
home this weekend will distribute American flags the following week.
- Fans will also receive
a 4-page pamphlet with the words to the “Star-Spangled Banner,” “God
Bless America” and “America the Beautiful.”
- Special red, white and
blue NFL bunting with the inspirational words, “United We Stand,”
(logo shown above and attached below) will be displayed in every
stadium’s endzone and along the sidelines.
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