Following graduation from the Naval Academy, Blecksmith accepted a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps and was assigned to command a platoon deployed in Iraq. Yet, his role in combat was anything but insignificant. In the Army-Navy game on December 1, 2001, he caught but one pass for 13 yards. James Patrick Blecksmith was one such individual.ĭespite his immense physical talents, Blecksmith played a very limited role on the Naval Academy football team. It is even more exceptional to witness an athlete of such immense qualities who also possesses the characteristics of selflessness, humility and willingness to sacrifice for the greater good. It is rare to come across an athlete that excels at a high level across multiple sports. But always with an incomparable nobility and honor. These are compelling journeys - sometimes with tragic endings, other times with auspicious new beginnings. As our nation now commemorates the ten years since the attacks of September 11, this program looks back at that historic game and profiles the journeys of three of its players who dedicated themselves to this country. The players from both sides knew that duty would soon be taking them overseas. The mood of the game was solemn, as nation was still mourning losses in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania. A national television audience was also watching these soon to be warriors do battle on the gridiron. Bush and war heroes General Norman Schwarzkopf and Senator John McCain. A record crowd was on hand at Philadelphia's Veteran's Stadium. Despite all the memorable games in the history of this great rivalry, few stand out more than the 102nd meeting held on December 1, 2001. First played in 1890, the game represents, among many other things, the bragging rights of these two competing U.S. The Army-Navy football game is among the fiercest and most storied rivalries in all of sports. This was the Army-Navy game that would occur just weeks after the attacks of September 11. On December 1, 2001, two ordinary football teams met on a field in Philadelphia's Veteran's Stadium to play sixty minutes of football. The film was produced by Sweet Prince Productions. The documentary film From Philadelphia to Fallujah will air tonight at 9:00 PM on WUSA Channel 9 in Washington, DC.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |