RI Veterans: Starts now. Army Navy Game. Foxborough, Boston, Providence – John A. Cianci

by John A. Cianci, contributing writer on Veterans issues

This is a huge week for Veterans with activities taking place to honor those who serve and have served defending the United States of America. Of course there is the big game on Saturday, but starting TODAY, there are a host of wrap-around events. This week’s column comes a day early and is solely devoted to Army Navy – America’s Game!

From Gillette Stadium, RINEWSTODAY will be there and covering Patriot Games between Army-Navy throughout MA , Fan Fest, and the Army-Navy Football Game on Saturday.

Did you know at Patriot Pro Shop veterans receive a 10% discount on all items purchased?

Did you know the Patriot Pro Shop, 1 Patriot Place, Foxborough, MA is stocked with Army-Navy Game gear?

The shop is open:

Wednesday, 10:00 a.m to 6 p.m.

Thursday, 10:00 a.m to 6 p.m.

Friday, 10:00 a.m to 8 p.m

VETTIP: Go on Thursday or Friday in the afternoon and stay to shop at the Patriot Pro Shop. After shopping, stay for Fan Fest, which will have a large display of military vehicles and much more.     

If you don’t have game tickets, you will not have access to Fan Fest or Patriot Pro Shop on Saturday.

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Did you know Patriots dedicated the FIRST NFL team to dedicate an unoccupied POW/MIA seat and plaque? The seat is located at the South Endzone of Gillette Stadium. In the NFL.

Army-Navy Game Events at Gillette Stadium and in Providence, RI

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – On Saturday, Dec. 9, the Army-Navy Game presented by USAA will be played at Gillette Stadium for the first time. The game will also be televised nationally on CBS, worldwide on American Forces Network and Westwood One Radio will feed their broadcast to 300-plus stations throughout the United States. The 2023 installment of Army-Navy marks the first time in the 124-yearhistory of America’s Game that it will be played in New England, and only the third time it will take place outside of the mid-Atlantic region (Chicago in 1926 and Pasadena, Calif. in 1983). In celebration of this historic occasion, Gillette Stadium, Massachusetts and Rhode Island are hosting several associated events in the leadup to the game.

Army-Navy Events in MA and RI

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 6, 10:00 AM – Location: USS Constitution , Boston MA (The USS Constitution Museum recommends entering the Nautica Parking Garage into navigation apps – 88 Constitution Road, Boston, Mass.)

USAA Bag of Tea Reveal: In honor of the 250th anniversary of the Boston Tea Party, which will take place just one week after the 2023 Army-Navy Game, the game’s presenting sponsor SAA will reveal a commemorative 250-pound bag of tea at the USS Constitution, which is the oldest commissioned naval vessel afloat. Location: USS Constitution (The USS Constitution Museum recommends entering the Nautica Parking Garage into navigation apps – 88 Constitution Road, Boston, Mass.)

Fan Fest for Army-Navy Game Starts Thursday Night at Gillette Stadium

THURSDAY, DEC. 7, 5:00-11:00pm – Fan Fest, Location: Enel Plaza at Patriot Place (1 Patriot Place, Foxborough, Mass.), Official 2023 Army-Navy Game Fan Fest and Patriots Thursday Night

Football Watch Party: The Army-Navy Game Fan Fest, featuring demonstrations, activations and more will officially open on Thursday evening. Fans are also invited to a viewing party as the New England Patriots take on the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday Night Football. This event is free and open to the general public.

FRIDAY, DEC. 8, Patriot Game Competition – The Patriot Games are a two-day competition between a select group of Army West Point Cadets and Naval Academy Midshipmen, consisting of various physical and mental challenges leading up to the game’s kick-off on Saturday afternoon.

8:00 AM – Patriot Games Tug-of-War Location: Minute Man National Park by the Old North Bridge (174 Liberty St., Concord, Mass.). Cadets and Midshipmen will square off in the first event of the Patriot Games presented by USAA.

9:30 AM – Patriot Games, Location: Boston Common by the Soldiers and Sailors Monument (139 Tremont St., Boston, Mass.) Best of Three Competition: The Patriot Game presented by USAA continue with the Best of Three Competition near the Soldiers and Sailors Monument in the Boston Common.

Parade

11:00 AM – Parade from Boston Common to Faneuil Hall: The Army and Navy Patriot Games, Location: Boston Common (139 Tremont St., Boston, Mass.) to Faneuil Hall (4 South Market St., Boston,Mass.) teams will parade through the Boston city streets from Boston Common to Faneuil Hall in advance of the third competition.

Pep Rally

11:30 AM – Pep Rally: Location: Faneuil Hall (4 South Market St., Boston, Mass.)

The Army and Navy bands and cheer squads will help fans gear up for the game with an official pep rally in front of the Faneuil Hall Meeting House

12:00 PM – Patriot Games presented by USAA Pull-Up Competition: Location: Faneuil Hall (4 South Market St., Boston, Mass.). Cadets and Midshipmen will square off in a pull-up competition at Faneuil Hall, with their respective bands, cheer squads and fans rooting them on.

1:30 PM – Debate: Location: Faneuil Hall Meeting House (4 South Market St., Boston, Mass.)The Army West Point and Naval Academy Debate teams will debate a designated topic within the historic Faneuil Hall Meeting House.

1:45 PM – Patriot Games , Location: Charlestown Navy Yard (1st Ave & 3rd St, Boston, Mass. Relay Race: The Cadets and Midshipmen will compete in a relay race throughout historic landmarks, beginning in the Navy Yard before racing to the top of Bunker Hill and ending at the USS Constitution.

SATURDAY, DEC. 9:

10:00 AM-12:00 PM – College GameDay: ESPN’s College GameDay will go live from Gillette Stadium, Location: Gillette Stadium Parking Lot 5B (1 Patriot Place, Foxborough, Mass.) for the first time ever in advance of the 2023 Army-Navy Game.

11:00 AM-3:00 PM – Location: Enel Plaza at Patriot Place (1 Patriot Place, Foxborough, Mass.) Official 2023 Army-Navy Game Fan Fest: The Army-Navy Game Fan Fest, featuring demonstrations, activations and more will be open to ticketed fans only on Saturday in the leadup to the game. The game will officially kick off at Gillette Stadium at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 9. For additional information about the 2023 Army-Navy Game presented by USAA at Gillette Stadium, please visit GilletteStadium.com/ArmyNavy and ArmyNavyGame.com.

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Army-Navy Game Happenings In Rhode Island

Rhode Island Press Conference

Wednesday, December 6, 2:30 PM – Location: Amica Mutual Pavilion (1 LaSalle Square, Providence, RI) Rhode Island Press Conference: Rhode Island Governor Daniel McKee, Senator Jack Reed, Congressman Seth Magaziner and Providence Mayor Brett Smiley will join the RI Convention Center Authority and Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau to discuss the historic 2023 Army-Navy game.

3:00 PM – Naval Academy Midshipmen arrive in Providence: Location: Rhode Island Convention Center (1 Sabin St., Providence, RI). The Midshipmen who will be staying overnight arrive at the Rhode Island Convention Center in advance of the game.

December 8, 2023, 4am – Rhode Island/Connecticut line – Game balls are being relay run from the US Military Academy to the stadium. Groups of runners will enter Rhode Island from the Woodstock/Putnam, CT area around 4 a.m. Friday. TBD *check back for details

530 p.m – A Partial Lighting in the Basin of Waterplace Park in Honor of the Army-Navy Game – Join us for a partial lighting in the basin of Waterplace Park on Friday, December 8 in honor of the 124th Army-Navy Game happening at Gillette Stadium, supported by General Dynamics Electric Boat with additional support by BuildSubmarines.com and the site’s owners, BlueForge Alliance. The lighting will begin at 5:30 p.m. and the fires will burn until 9:00 p.m. 

As the largest manufacturer in Rhode Island, Electric Boat is proud to support WaterFire and its honoring of the U.S. Naval Academy’s midshipmen on the eve of their annual game against Army,” said Kevin Graney, president of General Dynamics Electric Boat. “These men and women have chosen to wear the cloth of our nation and dedicate themselves to serving the United States as future leaders in our Navy. We join the people of the Ocean State to welcome them to the City of Providence. We hope they and their families have a wonderful evening and encourage the community to turn out and show their appreciation on this special night.”

Providence, Rhode Island will be hosting nearly 700 Navy midshipmen from the U.S Naval Academy the weekend of the 124th Army-Navy Game.

6:00 PM – Catch three fire-spinning performances by Cirque De Light at 6 p.m., 7 p.m., and 8 p.m.  WaterFire Providence thanks our generous supporters for helping to make this season possible. Details of the season schedule will be posted on the WaterFire Providence website at https://waterfire.org/schedule. Additional events may be added to the schedule as funding becomes available.

7:00 PM – WWE Tribute to the Troops: WWE Location: Amica Mutual Pavilion (1 La Salle Square, Providence, RI) will host their 21st annual Tribute to the Troops a Providence’s Amica Mutual Pavilion, welcoming Midshipmen and Cadets to enjoy the show the night before the 2023 Army-Navy Game at Gillette Stadium. Since its inception in 2003, WWE’s Tribute to the Troops has honored our U.S. service members, veterans and their families for their continued sacrifice and commitment to our country

Tribute to the Troops with WWE in Providence

December 8, 2023 – WWE Tribute to the Troops, Amica Mutual pavilion. 1 Lasalle Square, Providence RI. The 21st annual Tribute to the Troops will air Friday, December 8 at 8 p.m. ET on FOX.     

Since its inception in 2003, WWE’s Tribute to the Troops has honored our U.S. service members, veterans and their families for their continued sacrifice and commitment to our country, and is widely considered one of television’s most patriotic and heartwarming shows of the year.

WWE has a multi-decade commitment to the U.S. Armed Forces, which includes visiting nearly 400 military installations throughout the world, offering all U.S. military personnel free tickets to WWE live events, and has partnered with military organizations, such as Hire Heroes USA. WWE currently supports the USO and tells stories of heroism and valor of our nation’s bravest through the company’s partnership with National Medal of Honor Museum to make an impact in the community.

SEE YOUR FAVORITE SMACKDOWN SUPERSTARS LIVE INCLUDING: 
Charlotte Flair, United States Champion Rey Mysterio, WWE Women’s Champion IYO SKY, LA Knight, Austin Theory, Sheamus, AJ Styles, The Street Profits

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There will be a schedule of activities going on throughout the weekend of December 8-10, for more information visit ArmyNavyPVD.com.

Wow! Events are happening not only at Gillette Stadium, but throughout Massachusetts and Rhode Island intertwined with the 124^th Army-Navy Football game on Saturday.

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Editor’s Note: Many thanks to John A. Cianci, Veterans Writer, for taking on the added task of reporting from the game – we’re thrilled to “be there”.

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If you are a retailer and or a veteran aware of a business not listed above, please forward to: [email protected]:  the business’s name, location, and military and veteran discount offered. 

If you have an event, meeting, other pertinent veteran information, or email questions or help needed, contact the Italian American War Veteran Service Officer, John A Cianci, [email protected], ITAM Office 1-(401)677-9VET(9838) 

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To read all columns in this series go to: https://rinewstoday.com/john-a-cianci/  

John A. Cianci is a Veteran Service Officer. Retired, U.S. Army MSgt., Persian Gulf War and Iraq War combat theater.

Cianci, a combat disabled Veteran, served in Desert Shield/Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom. His awards include Bronze Star, Combat Action Badge, Good Conduct, and others.

Cianci belongs to numerous veterans organizations – Italian American War Veterans, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign War, and many more organizations. He is an active volunteer assisting veterans to navigate federal and state benefits they have earned. He is Department of Rhode Island Department Commander Italian American War Veterans and Veteran Service Officer.

He is a graduate of Roger Williams University (BS Finance), UCONN business school* (Entrepreneur Bootcamp for Veterans), Solar Energy International Residential, Commercial and Battery Based Photovoltaic Systems certificate programs, numerous certificates from the Department of Defense renewable energy programs, including graduate of the Solar Ready Vets Program.