Major League Soccer, its teams and fans join the rest of the nation in remembering and honoring those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001 at each of the four MLS regular season matches to be held this weekend. In addition to a Moment of Remembrance at each stadium, each home team will also honor the heroes and remember the victims in other ways:
COLORADO RAPIDS vs. KANSAS CITY WIZARDS - SEPT. 10
The Colorado Rapids will honor the United States Armed Forces on Friday with their match against the Kansas City Wizards being billed as "Military Appreciation Night".
One of the highlights of the match, taking place only one day before the three year anniversary of the September 11th tragedy, will be a special performance by the world-famous United States Marines Silent Drill Platoon, which will execute its precision drill formations at halftime.
The celebrations will also include a presence by the Colorado Army National Guard at Soccer Celebration (4:30 - 7:30 p.m. ET), who will showcase some of their army vehicles for people to see and experience up close.
All U.S. Armed Forces personnel are eligible to receive specially-discounted tickets for the match; men and women of any branch of the U.S. Armed Forces can take advantage of this special offer by calling 303-825-GOAL.
METROSTARS vs. NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION - SEPT. 11
Thanks to a nationwide campaign called HomeFront Cards (www.HomeFrontCards.com), MetroStars fans attending the team's game against the New England Revolution at Giants Stadium on Saturday will be able to send cards with personalized messages of thanks and encouragement to the families of U.S. military personnel. The initiative is part of the MetroStars' plan to observe and remember the tragedies of September 11, 2001.
Through HomeFront Cards' association with the National Military Family Association and in conjunction with the MetroStars, patrons in attendance will have the opportunity of mailing a signed card to military families. Thanks to HomeFront Cards, thousands of U.S. military family members have already received heartfelt notes of thanks and support from Americans throughout the country.
D.C. UNITED vs. DALLAS BURN - SEPT. 11
D.C. United will pay tribute to "Hometown Heroes" through a series of events surrounding the team's match this Saturday against the Dallas Burn. The club will offer local law enforcement offices, fire departments, emergency medical personnel, members of the military and other public safety groups discounted tickets to the match and donate a portion of the proceeds from the Inaugural Hometown Heroes Day to the Pentagon Memorial Fund, a non-profit organization created to raise funds to construct and maintain a memorial to the 184 people who lost their lives in the terrorist attack on the Pentagon.
Prior to the match, the national colors will be presented by the Pentagon Police Department. The flag they will carry was rescued from the Pentagon on September 11th, 2001, by a joint team of Pentagon Police and United States Army Military Police personnel. Paul Gonzales will perform a ceremonial coin toss. A former U.S. Navy Officer representing the Defense Intelligence Agency, Gonzales sustained injuries on September 11, 2001 as he led his surviving office mates to safety during the attack on the Pentagon.
Representatives from a host of area police and fire departments will then participate in the unfurling of the American flag, complementing the presentation of the national colors. Among the participants will be Ed Petke, brother of D.C. United defender Mike Petke. Ed Petke is an officer in the Prince William County Police Department.
D.C. United will be wearing 9/11 "Remember" patches on their uniforms for this match. The patches, which feature the familiar representation of a pentagon surrounding the twin towers, were donated by the Arlington County Police Department. The club will also honor the Hometown Heroes as part of Soccer Celebration. Representatives from a variety of local public safety organizations will host demonstrations and displays in Lot 8 before the match.
LOS ANGELES GALAXY vs. SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES - SEPT. 11
Prior to the game, the Los Angeles Galaxy will also present a special tribute to those who died in the multiple terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001. The tribute will include a moment of silence in remembrance of those who perished in those attacks and the singing of the national anthem prior to the match by U.S. Army Sergeant Corlin E. Morrison of the Los Angeles Recruiting Battalion stationed in Culver City, Calif.
