Army Navy Weekend 2016 in Baltimore
Clearly, the annual Army Navy football game is an event unlike any other in college athletics. Only those who participate truly understand the significance. So for a school like Admiral Farragut Academy, why not host an alumni event focused around “America’s Game” each and every year?
Ten years ago, with the help of a group of Philadelphia alumni and friends, Farragut hosted a small group of 30 at Lincoln Financial Field who took in the sights and sounds of the Army Navy Game. Following the game, they gathered at Philadelphia’s notorious Union League Club for an evening filled with holiday cheer, patriotism, and true Farragut Brotherhood. Fast forward to December of 2016, this event has become one of our largest annual events entertaining nearly 125 alumni and guests each and every year.
Our 2016 Army Navy Alumni Weekend took center stage in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor at the beautiful Rusty Scupper restaurant on Friday, December 9 and was truly epic. Guests included members of our Board of Directors and Foundation Board of Trustees, current upper school cadets and lower schools students, members of our alumni community coming from near and far, and our guest of honor and speaker, Harry Humphries. Harry spoke about the meaning of the Game, what it means to those men competing on the field for their brothers and sisters fighting the fight for the rest of us around the world. He spoke about the meaning of being one nation, under one flag. Standing up for each other and backing up those who flank you in life and society. His words came from his best boarding school career, serving our country in the United States Navy. Humphries was involved in over 200 combat missions and served two tours in Vietnam, first as a member of SEAL Team TWO under Richard Marcinko, and then later as a “PRU Advisor” with Phoenix Program’s Counter-Terrorism unit.
He thanked our current cadets of Admiral Farragut Academy and our two current Midshipmen from the Naval Academy who were present for their dedication to carrying on the necessary traditions and values that both Academy’s have relied on for generations to prepare leaders of our great country both prep school and in society.
Speaking for those in attendance, it was truly an honor to have Harry and his wonderful wife Catherine present. A night with so much meaning, with Baltimore’s M&T Stadium over his right shoulder illuminated in red, white, and blue, Mr. Humphries said it best!
Next year, our festivities will make their way back to the City of Brotherly Love, Philadelphia. We are already hard at work putting together accommodation options and our events. If you would like to join us in Philadelphia December 8 & 9, 2017, or would like more information about the weekend’s event, please contact Jeff Ogden ‘00 at jogden@farragut.org. Tickets for the game and dinner will be available March 1 on our website.
