The
difference between being the rabbi at an installation versus the Academy, is
how close you are to DC, or in this case, the Governor’s Mansion.
As
the “sitting rabbi” of the Academy, I was invited to attend the Governor’s
Chanukkah. It was so nice to meet leaders of the Jewish community throughout
Maryland, and know I could eat anything being served!
There
is so much you do not see on TV with the Army-Navy game. Here is the rundown:
Running
the ball onto the field: All the Firsties (seniors) from 13th
company run the ball onto the field. We meet up with the Army’s marathon team,
who run the ball from West Point to the game. That’s right – they use their
Marathon team, and run one person at a time. We run in groups of 6-8, and are
not varsity runners.
March
On: The Brigade marches on by company, followed by the Corps. It is an amazing
thing to watch all the Mids and Cadets form up, and march. Though we will
battle on the gridiron, we will be brothers and sisters in arms.
The
Prisoner Exchange: We have Army Cadets that attend the Academy for a semester,
and vise versa. They line up, and this year, we spelled out “SINK ‘EM” on their
backs. The Brigade Commander / Corps Commander shake hands before letting their
“prisoners” go for the game. They still have to come back with us and take
their finals.
Parachuting
In: The Army and Navy’s Parachute experts try to land on the center of the
50-yard line. It’s amazing to watch.
Fly
Over: What is an important moment without a flyover?
13th
Company has the honor of running the football from the Naval Academy to
wherever the Army-Navy game is held.
This
year, we ran from Annapolis to Phili.
I
ran part of a leg with the Mids.
I
had no idea who Bob Feller was. I was voluntold to give the invocation and
benediction at an event in DC for his foundation. Bob Feller
Act of Valor Award - Wikipedia
Bob
was a prodigy at baseball, and jumped from high school to the majors. When WWII
started, he elected to enlist in the Navy, serving four years, rather than play
when he was at the age to peak in his performance. In that time, he achieved
the rank of Chief Petty Officer. After WWII, he went back to playing baseball,
breaking records and winning a World Series.
Only
afterwards did I learn that Bob’s story is a part of the curriculum for Chief
Petty Officer training. What a beautiful legacy!
We are the last service academy to pray before the Mids get to eat lunch.
I make it a point to keep my prayers short (2 sentences), and quote someone they do not expect.
So
far, I quoted Yoda, Capt Jean-Luc Picard from Star Trek, Brene Brown, and the Mandalorian.
Though I choose to not be conventional, I always make sure that my prayers are relevant to what is going on in the lives of the Midshipmen, and to be inclusive with my language.
I
was visiting Boston this week, and got a special tour of the USS Constitution.
I got to go into the bowels of the ship. There, I saw where John Adam put the
welding skills he learned in England to good use. He welded the iron inside the
skin of ship, hence the nickname, “Old Ironsides.”
