The eyes of the world will turn to GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on Monday night for a prime-time clash between playoff teams from a year ago, but despite the excitement surrounding the matchup, this game is about much more than just the final score.
This particular contest – which will serve as the Chiefs' annual "Salute to Service" game – is about the real heroes in our community.
The Chiefs have a storied history of supporting the military throughout the years, illustrated through numerous base visits, scholarships for Gold Star families, regular community outreach events, Military Appreciation Day at training camp and Day 3 draft selection announcements from military bases in recent years.
It's a commitment that's woven into the fabric of the franchise, and not just in the metaphorical sense. In fact, the Chiefs will once again wear an honorary patch during pre-game warmups on Monday night that celebrate our Armed Forces as part of the Chiefs Military Mission presented by G.E.H.A.
This year's patches are unique, too, in that they will collectively celebrate the 250th birthday of the U.S. Marine Corps, the U.S. Army and the U.S. Navy. With that in mind, the players will have the option of wearing one of three patches during pre-game warmups on Monday, each of which will recognize one of those three branches with its respective logo and camouflage pattern.
This will mark the 10th consecutive year that the Chiefs will don commemorative patches prior to the annual "Salute to Service" game, continuing a tradition that has honored various aspects of our nation's military and its history.
It began with the intent of recognizing Gold Star families in 2016, as the Chiefs wore custom sweatshirts that each bore the name of a different veteran who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country prior to Kansas City's matchup with the Jacksonville Jaguars. The hoodies were then gifted back to the loved ones of those veterans, culminating in an impactful gesture of remembrance that spawned a series of similar endeavors in the years since.
The Chiefs honored the many troops who call our community home the following season during "Salute to Service" month, sporting sweatshirts during warmups that featured a handful of different patches recognizing local military units. Representatives from nearby Fort Riley, alongside members of the Kansas and Missouri National Guard, were then surprised with the game-worn hoodies during a stadium tour soon afterward.
That tradition has persisted in the seven years since, too, as the Chiefs have worn patches honoring the armistice of World War I (2018), the commissioning of the USS Kansas City (2019), the 75th anniversary of the conclusion of World War II (2020), those who served in the Global War on Terrorism (2021), Operation Linebacker I & II (2022), the 50th anniversary of the conclusion of the Vietnam War (2023), and the 249th birthday of the U.S. Marine Corps.
It has grown into a meaningful display of solidarity during that time, providing the Chiefs with an opportunity to celebrate the individuals who make our freedom a reality. Monday's matchup features two playoff teams from a year ago facing off, but without the sacrifices of our men and women in uniform, the game wouldn't even be taking place.
This year's patches help to ensure that we all remember that.
