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University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Honor Military and 9/11 Heroes at Game
9/11/2011 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 11, 2011
(Video by John Tipton, GopherSports.com)
The University of Minnesota honored the memory of the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001, during the Golden Gophers' home season opener vs. New Mexico State Saturday at TCF Bank Stadium.
The special recognitions got underway just prior to kickoff with the Northwest Special Operations Warriors parachuting into the stadium carrying both United States and University of Minnesota flags.
The the service and sacrifice of U.S. Army Sgt. Matthew Harmon of the 172nd Infantry unit. was recognized during an honorary coin toss prior to kickoff. A native of Fosston, Minn., Sgt. Harmon was killed last month in Afghanistan. His parents, Tom and Irene Harmon, and brother, Mark Harmon, participated in the ceremony.
A special recognition of Tom Burnett, Jr., took place at the end of the first quarter. A native of Bloomington, Minn., Tom was among those who lost their lives on 9/11 aboard Flight 93, which crashed in Pennsylvania after passengers challenged terrorists and averted a collision with an undetermined landmark. Tom and Beverly Burnett, the parents of Tom Burnett, Jr., and Mary Margaret Juergens, Tom Jr.'s sister, were a part of the ceremony.
At halftime, three U.S. Marine Corps officers reaffirmed their oaths in a special swearing-in ceremony as part of the U of M Marching Band's halftime show.
