Ravens Announce Sept. 11th Plans To Remember and Salute Spirit of America
Players and fans of the Baltimore Ravens will take time to remember the courage and resilience that followed the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001, with special in-stadium, on-field and television tributes during their season opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers this Sunday (9/11).
The first Sunday of the NFL regular season falls on the 10th anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001.
All NFL games and broadcasts on Sunday will recognize those who lost their lives, honor the families who lost loved ones, and salute the American spirit, the early responders on 9/11 and other heroes that contributed to the nation's recovery. The NFL will unite fans by synching the pre-game salutes during the Sunday afternoon CBS and FOX telecasts, followed by a special Sunday night presentation from MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. on NBC. The special pre-game events that will be televised nationally also will be shown on video boards in each of the stadiums hosting games that day.
The Ravens vs. Steelers pre-game ceremony will include a special video introduction, followed by a performance of "Taps" via a live feed from Shanksville, Pa., site of the Flight 93 National Memorial. Ravens players, coaches and 150 volunteers will come together to hold a field-length American flag for a moment of remembrance and silence before the playing of the National Anthem.
The group of 150 will be comprised of military from Ft. Meade, the Pentagon, the Army National Guard, the Wounded Warrior Project and first responders (police and fire/rescue) from more than 75 cities across the state of Maryland.
Ravens players, coaches and sideline personnel will wear a special NFL 9/11 ribbon as a patch or pin on their uniforms and sideline apparel. The ribbon logo will also be featured on the field at M&T Bank Stadium. In addition, all fans entering M&T Bank Stadium this Sunday will receive a personal American flag.
It was announced last Tuesday (8/30) that the NFL and the NFL Players Association will contribute $1 million to three memorials and two charities related to the events of Sept. 11, 2001.
The NFL and NFLPA will contribute $500,000 to the 9/11 Museum & Memorial in Lower Manhattan and $250,000 to be divided between the Flight 93 National Memorial and the Pentagon Memorial Fund.
An additional $250,000 is expected from the sale of auction items from games played on this Sunday. These items, which fans can bid on at www.NFL.com/Auction, will include game-worn autographed player jerseys, coaches and player hats, and commemorative game coins used during those games.
NFL Auction proceeds will be divided equally between Tuesday's Children and MyGoodDeed. Tuesday's Children is a leading organization providing support and services to those who lost a loved one on 9/11, as well as to rescue and recovery workers who responded to the events. As the principal organizer of the Sept. 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance, MyGoodDeed is providing a positive, forward-looking way for Americans to honor and remember 9/11 victims, survivors and first-responders.
This marks the second time Sept. 11 has fallen on the first Sunday of the NFL season since 2001. The fourth anniversary of Sept. 11 in 2005 was also on a Sunday.
