The Minnesota Vikings would like to thank the service and sacrifice of all veterans and their families in observance of Veterans Day and beyond.
The Vikings were able to celebrate the courage and commitment during Sunday's annual "Salute to Service" game in multiple ways.
A parachute team of former U.S. Navy SEALS delivered the game ball to a joint services guard on the Downtown Commons Park before the game, and the United States Air Force Ceremonial Brass Quintet performed the National Anthem as a field-sized flag was unfurled from sideline to sideline.
View images of the journey of the game ball being delivered from the sky down to the field by former Navy Seals for the Vikings annual Salute to Service game against the Lions.
The Vikings also officially presented a premium seat that remains unsold and unfilled for Vikings games. The seat is black and features the POW/MIA logo that was established during the Vietnam War.
The POW/MIA logo and flag has been extended to military personnel in all future conflicts and honors the 1,618 U.S. military personnel missing and unaccounted-for from the Vietnam War.
The seat is located in Section V8 and is part of the Medtronic Club level. It sits in front of a wall that displays the seals of the five branches of the United States Military: Army, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard and Air Force.
Current soldiers stand guard over the seat during Vikings games, and there is a changing of the guard ceremony between quarters.
A plaque accompanies the seat and says: "WITH REVERENCE WE HOLD THIS SEAT OF VALOR FOR THOSE BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN, LIVING AND DEAD, WHO SACRIFICED IN THE LIMELIGHT OF HONOR AND GLORY THAT WE MAY HAVE FREEDOM. THEY WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN."
Navy Cmdr. Brian Danielson participated in the ceremony on Sunday and received a tremendous ovation from the crowd. Cmdr. Danielson's father, Air Force Capt. Ben Danielson, from Kenyon, Minnesota, was shot down over Laos during the Vietnam War.
The subsequent search-and-rescue effort is considered one of the largest airborne search-and-rescue efforts in military history. Captain Danielson was not rescued and was declared missing in action in 1969. In 2006, Cmdr. Danielson took part in a military expedition to recover the remains of his fallen father.
Vikings Veterans:
The Vikings are proud and grateful for staff members who are also veterans.
Consultant and Hall of Fame Head Coach Bud Grant
Player Personnel Consultant Paul Wiggin
Consultant and Team Historian Fred Zamberletti
Director of Security Kim Klawiter
Ticket Office Assistant Neil Grewe
Director of Football Information Systems Paul Nelson
Special Teams Coordinator Mike Priefer
Senior Project Manager — New Stadium Jim Cima
Certified Assistant Athletic Trainer Albert Padilla, MS, ATC
Turf Technician Jared Kuhn
