2001 NFL VETERANS DAY ACTIVITIES

Baltimore

(Plays at Tennessee Monday night) Have Veterans from the Vietnam War present colors at every home game.

Cleveland

Will honor veterans from all five branches of the armed forces pregame with a medley by the University of Toledo Marching Band.  Will ask veterans from each branch to stand and be recognized as well as having color guards from all branches.

Indianapolis

The United States flag will be displayed on the field during pre-game ceremonies. The Salvation Army Band will perform "God Bless America" and the National Anthem in pre-game ceremonies. The Navy bell from the USS Indianapolis will be tolled during pre-game ceremonies. The Purdue University Glee Club will perform patriotic songs at halftime.

Jacksonville

As part pregame festivities, Rear Admiral Jan C. Gaudio of the U.S. Navy Commander Navy Region Southeast will preside over one of the largest re-enlistments in Jacksonville history. Performing the national anthem: MU1 Chris Kolb, MU2 Todd Smeltzer, MU2 Scott Verville and MU3 April Boucher from contemporary music ensemble PRIDE, which is a component of Navy Band Southeast (Lt. Tony Mille, Bandmaster) which is stationed at Naval Air Station Jacksonville.  The colors will be presented by the United States Joint Military Color Guard as well as members of the China-Burma-India Veterans' Association.

Pregame ceremony will conclude with a flyover of United Stated Navy F-14s from the VF 101 “Grim Reapers” stationed at Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia Beach, Va.

Kansas City

(On Tuesday, Nov. 6) LB Mike Maslowski, OT John Tait, TE Kendall Gammon, QB Todd Collins, and C Casey Wiegmann went to Whiteman AFB to meet with pilots of the B-2 bombers.  After touring the base and learning to fly the B-2 simulator, the players handed out autograph footballs and hats.  Whiteman AFB (located in Knob Noster, MO) is the primary dispatch location for all B-2 and Stealth bombers.

Tennessee

(On 11/4) Had military band from the 101st Airborne, color guard from all branches of the military, flyover and parachutes from the 101st Airborne.

Arizona

Will recognize veterans in attendance and a U.S. Air Force re-enlistment ceremony will begin the festivities. A seven-piece American flag will spell “America” and then will be flipped to show our nation’s colors. Trumpeter Jesse McGuire will offer renditions of “America the Beautiful” and “The Star Spangled Banner” accompanied by an F-16 flyover from Luke Air Force Base. The nation’s colors will be presented for the national anthem by U.S. Marines from the Yuma Naval Air Station.

Atlanta

Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Department Color Guard will present the nation’s colors.

Carolina

(On 11/18) Will be “Military Tribute Day” at Ericsson Stadium. The invocation will be conducted by Commander Robert Pipkin, Deputy Director of Operational Ministries, Atlantic Fleet for the United States Navy.  A veterans “Massing of the Colors” will take place and the national anthem will be played by the 43 Operations Group Quartet from Pope Air Force Base in Fayetteville, North Carolina.  There will also be a military tribute during halftime.

Chicago

At “Soldier Field,” 125 veterans will attend as special guests of the Bears. Alderman Jim Balcer (Vietnam veteran) will lead the stadium in the Pledge of Allegiance prior to the National Anthem. Color guard from the Marines will present the Pledge and National Anthem.

N.Y. Giants

(On 11/4) All four of the armed services had recruiting tables set up throughout the stadium, along with unique displays…Had a joint color guard…Had a pre-game presentation honoring 3 members of the original "Band of Brothers"…Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy was an honorary captain for coin toss…National Anthem was performed by a member of the military…Had  the United States Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon perform at halftime…Showed  a PSA for each armed service throughout the game.

St. Louis

Sixth annual Veterans Day Salute. Will salute all branches with a full military review. A military band will play a tribute to all five services as the review takes place…Also will unveil a 40-yard American flag…Boeing will hand out 70,000 American flag lapel pins. The Army Precision Rifle Corps will be a pregame attraction.

San Francisco

Airforce Band of the Golden West, under the direction of Captain Doug

Monroe, will perform pregame…Also pregame, "Acoustix," - a group that recently won the title of "Best in the World," and the International Barbershop Quartet contest will be performing a unique acapella version of John Phillips Souza's "Stars and Stripes Forever."…For the national anthem, colors will be presented by a joint services honor guard…A special on-field ceremony will honor individuals

from different branches of the military who have fought in past wars, including Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf War, and World War II…Halftime will open with an acapella performance of "God Bless America" by Acoustix…Will then be joined by Brigadier General David Lefforge, the Commander of the 60th Air Mobility Wing at Travis Air Force Base, who will perform a swearing in ceremony for 40 new Air Force recruits…The halftime finale will include a 60-yard American flag unfurled to the tune of Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the USA."

Washington

(On 11/4) National Anthem was sung by United States Army Staff Sergeant Alec Maley, who also sung the national anthem for President George W. Bush’s Inauguration…Lt. General Brown, Special Forces (head of all U.S. Special Forces) and Command Sgt. Major Stevenson Cuffee, Military District of Washington (highest ranking enlisted man in Special Forces), observed the pre-game coin toss…Color guard: The Old Guard of the 3^rd U.S. Infantry, United States Army…Twelve members of the VFW marched onto the field as a tribute to Veterans Day.