The Redskins Blog

Vote ‘Skins In USAA’s ‘Million Fan Salute’

(AP photo)

When you salute, our local military wins.

Unite with Redskins fans to salute the military in USAA’s “Million Fan Salute.” NFL cities that collect the most salutes through Nov. 26 will earn rewards for their local military community from USAA, Official Military Appreciation Sponsor of the Washington Redskins.

Participating is easy:

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Join USAA, Redskins In ‘Salute to Service’

The Washington Redskins and USAA will be honoring current and former military members and their families as part of the “Salute to Service” campaign.

The Redskins on Sunday will display “Salute to Service” banners on the sidelines honoring all branches of the United States armed forces, in addition to honoring members of the military on the field as well as on the video boards during their game against the Philadelphia Eagles at FedExField.

The Redskins also adopted a local unit — from the Air Force District of Washington at Joint Base Andrews — which visited the team’s practice on Monday and will attend Sunday’s game as guests of USAA. The Redskins will also wear helmet decals honoring military branches with their insignia. Look for more information on “Salute to Service” activities at www.redskins.com/salute.

The Redskins-Eagles game will also be featuring other USAA activities, including:

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Local Airmen Take In Monday’s Practice

The Washington Redskins had some very special guests at Monday’s practice.

A group of military service members from the Air Force District of Washington at Joint Base Andrews were on hand to watch the Redskins on the first day back from their Bye Week as they prepare for Sunday’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles.

The visit was coordinated as part of USAA‘s “Salute to Service,” a league-wide initiative in which teams deepen their connection to the military community. Redskins Fans can show their support by visiting “Million Fan Salute.”

Among those excited to watch the Redskins practice Monday was Senior Master Sgt. Demetrica Jefferis, who has been actively serving her country for 23 years with the Air Force.

Jefferis said she became a Redskins fan when her husband, Anthony, recently converted her to the burgundy and gold.

“He’s from the area — born and raised in Maryland — so over the years of just sitting with him and watching the NFL games, I’ve come to learn a lot about the history of the Redskins, as well as the passion and sharing that passion with the fans,” Jefferis said.

Jefferis was still beaming from one of the highlights of her visit to Redskins Park: a personal greeting by quarterback Robert Griffin III.

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FedExField Has An All-American Makeover

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While most of Redskins Nation is anxiously awaiting Sunday’s kickoff at 1 p.m., FedExField is hosting part one of the weekend double-header with the 112th annual Army-Navy game, sponsored by USAA.

The stadium has undergone an intense makeover, from both of the endzones and goalposts, to the hashmarks on the field, and the walls that line the field.  The traditionally Burgundy and Gold-clad crowd has been swapped for Cadets and Midshipmen–and their respective supporters.

One of the highlights of the pageantry that makes this game so special, is the academies’ respective marches onto the field.  Once the students are assembled, they chant traditional cheers and the fans cheer.

Today, the visiting Cadets took the field first.  If you listen closely, you can hear the jeering of the pro-Navy fans on that sideline:

After the Cadets had completely filed off the field, the Midshipmen took the field.  I didn’t do it on purpose, but in my travels, I ended up on the Army sideline.  This way, you get the full effect of the Army jeers for the Midshipmen filing off the field:

Don’t mind glimpses of my hand in the corner of your screen. If not for my hand, you wouldn’t see anything.

For any football fan, it doesn’t get much better than this.  For any blue-blooded American, this is the ideal setting for America’s oldest rivalry.

A Deep Redskins’ Army-Navy Connection

Joe Bellino (AP Image)

Tomorrow may be the Redskins-Patriots game, but the football action is starting a day early at FedExField, with today’s 112th annual Army-Navy game, presented by USAA.

This is the first time that “America’s Game” has been played in the Nation’s Capital, but for what it’s worth, there is a Redskins connection to this game that goes beyond the venue.  For some of you Redskins historians, you may remember that the Redskins have drafted a total of three players from the two academies.  Then again, you might not remember them as Redskins:

Hank Foldberg, Army, 3rd round (1947), E

Drafted in the third round of the 1947 Draft, Foldberg never played a down for the Redskins and ended up in the All-American Football Conference, playing a season each for the Brooklyn Dodgers and the Chicago Hornets.

That should ring a bell. Read more »

D.C. Cupcakes’ Army-Navy Cupcakes

via Georgetown Cupcakes

The Army-Navy Game, presented by USAA, is a prominent rivalry in college football each year.  This year’s game is going to be held on Saturday, Dec. 10 and will be hosted in the Nation’s Capital, Washington, D.C, for the first time in the game’s 112-year history.

In light of the match-up’s arrival in D.C, Georgetown Cupcake, Washington D.C.’s celebrated bakery and home to TLC’s hit series DC Cupcakes, will produce limited edition Army and Navy cupcakes branded with academy logos.

As part of their ongoing support of the military, the sisters of Georgetown Cupcake and DC Cupcakes will be selling limited edition Army and Navy cupcakes during the week leading up to game day.  Retired Military officials from both academies will be in the Georgetown store today at 1 p.m. to kickoff and help promote the sales of their cupcakes:

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