The Kansas City Chiefs will once again honor our men and women in uniform with the annual "Salute to Service" game on Nov. 11 against the Arizona Cardinals, but this year holds particular significance.
The contest falls on the 100th anniversary of Armistice Day, which marked the conclusion of the World War I on the Western Front and gave way to what we now know as Veterans Day.
It's a time each year that recognizes those that have sacrificed so much for our country, and on this Veterans Day, the Chiefs will don a special patch during pre-game warmups that commemorates that historic day 100 years ago.
The Chiefs revealed that patch in the most fitting of places on Friday afternoon as quarterback Chad Henne, linebacker Anthony Hitchens and defensive tackle Xavier Williams visited the National World War I Museum and Memorial and stuck around for a tour following the presentation.
"It was a great experience. I learned a lot of things that I didn't know about the war," Hitchens said. "I'm curious about things like that, and I had a chance to ask a lot of questions."
The museum is certainly the place to ask those questions, as it exists as the United States' leading institution dedicated to remembering, interpreting and understanding the Great War and its enduring impact on the global community.
"There's not a day that we wake up that we're not dealing with the decisions and actions made in World War I," said Dr. Matthew Naylor, President and CEO of the National World War I Museum and Memorial. "It defined the modern world in which we live."
And, as it turns out, the days leading up to the visit led to a bit of uncovered history for Henne.
"[The Chiefs] came to me this week and asked if I knew a Charles Henne, so I asked my mom, and she said that he served in World War I, and his son, Charles Jr., served in World War II," Henne explained. "I have a connection in my family that I didn't even know about, so it's pretty cool."
The interests of all three players made for a lively tour, which detailed everything from the events that caused the war to the United States' eventual involvement and the ramifications of the conflict that are still echoing today.
"We always love it when we're visiting with folks who have inquiring minds - people who are anxious to learn - and there's no shortage of that amongst the players," Naylor said. "They're always keen to learn and engage with us, which we really appreciate."
And Friday's visit was just the beginning of that partnership.
The Chiefs are offering a special ticket promotion for next month's game against the Cardinals that features a seat in the lower level for just $50, with $10 going directly to the National World War I Museum and Memorial.
Fans can take advantage of the offer by clicking here, and the first 500 fans to do so will receive the same commemorative patch worn by the players.
"To have two home-grown, iconic institutions partnering together, especially with the Armistice on Nov. 11, is a wonderful thing," Naylor said. "It's a great partnership and we couldn't be happier."
To purchase a ticket to the Chiefs' Salute to Service game on Nov. 11, click here.
