More than 60,000 people watched from the stands as cadets and midshipmen from the U.S. Military Academy and the U.S. Naval Academy faced off at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland, on Dec. 14., for the 125th annual Army-Navy football game.
One of college football’s most storied rivalries, the game was a display of gridiron grit. But when the action paused at halftime, college Knights from both military academies organized a display of spiritual strength: leading dozens of others in praying a rosary, a public witness to their faith. A Supreme Council delegation, led by Supreme Master Michael McCusker, a retired Army major, also participated.
With Navy leading by a score of 17-4 at halftime, cadets from Msgr. Cornelius George O’Keefe Council 8250 in West Point, New York, and midshipmen from Commodore Barry Council 14534 in Annapolis, Maryland, huddled with 150 other people in the stadium concourse to pray.
“It was powerful to see the two communities get together for such a prayer,” said Midshipman David Farrell, grand knight of Council 14534. “To see that among the crowd at the Army-Navy Game, so many people paused to pray. … It just made the game on the field so much more important and reminded us of the sacrifices that we’re making to our country as well.”
The event was the result of careful planning and coordination from both councils, representatives of which met during the College Councils Conference in October to prepare. Initially, organizers expected about 50 Knights and Catholic students to participate, but by the time halftime came, that number had tripled.
“People would walk by and see this rosary happening, and they would stay — people that didn’t even know about the event prior,” Farrell said. “That was really inspiring.”
In addition to Supreme Master McCusker, the Supreme Council delegation included Christopher Moore, a retired chief warrant officer five who serves as the Order’s director of military liaisons and college operations, and a team of military veterans who distributed rosaries and prayer cards to participants.
Following the rosary, McCusker offered some brief remarks, encouraging the college Knights in their service to God and country.
“May you always be open at every stage, every moment of your life, to always saying yes, not only to your country but to your father in heaven and to the service to your church,” the supreme master said. “God bless Army, God bless Navy.”
The history of the Army-Navy Game coincides with the history of the Knights of Columbus. The first matchup between the two teams took place in November 1890, just a few months after the death of the Order’s founder, Blessed Michael McGivney. And the 125th game will soon be followed by 125th anniversary of the Order’s Fourth Degree, established in February 1900 and dedicated to the virtue of patriotism.
While this was not the first time the two councils have joined in prayer during the Army-Navy Game, the scale and participation of the event was unprecedented, Farrell said.
“At the 125th meeting of these teams, the long-standing tradition of being able to stop and play a game with each other — I think we mirrored that by being able to stop and pray together,” he said. “I hope this new tradition continues at future games.”
As a Knight, Farrell has noticed that where there are strong, faith-filled councils, one will also find strong parishes and communities.
“When the Knights lead a prayer effort, it makes the community so much stronger and more faithful,” he said. “I’m happy to be part of an organization that can put such things into action.”