By Douglas V. Gibbs
As a Navy veteran, I will be watching today’s Army-Navy Game. The game, however, is more than a game. It’s an observance of the importance of our armed forces and a shining example on the football field of the Brotherhood of Liberty’s Defenders.
Today, as Army and Navy take the field, we will be watching a living symbol of the strength, sacrifice, and brotherhood that undergird our Republic. From an American perspective, the importance of our military cannot be overstated: they are the guardians of the liberty with which our Creator has endowed us, and the defenders of the constitutional order that secures those blessings for generations yet unborn.
Our Founding Fathers understood that liberty is not self-sustaining. It must be defended against tyranny abroad and preserved against corruption at home. The Constitution grants Congress the power to raise and support armies and maintain a navy, not as instruments of conquest, but as shields for freedom. Every soldier, sailor, airman, guardian, coasty, and marine stands as a living testament to the principle that liberty requires vigilance, courage, and sacrifice.
The Army–Navy Game is unique because both sides share a deeper allegiance: not to victory on the scoreboard, but to the defense of our constitutional republic. These young men who clash in spirited rivalry today will tomorrow stand shoulder to shoulder in the same cause; protecting the Constitution and the people it serves. Their brotherhood transcends uniforms and branches, rooted in shared duty, shared sacrifice, and shared love of country.
As patriots who understand that the foundation of this great country is a godly one, we recognize that true liberty is a gift from God, and we give thanks for those who risk their lives to preserve it. The Army–Navy Game reminds us to pray for our military, to honor their service, and to remember that their unity reflects the higher unity we are called to in Christ.
The cheers, the rivalry, and the pageantry are all expressions of joy in a tradition that celebrates not division, but devotion. When the final whistle blows, the victors will sing their alma mater second, and the defeated first. This ritual embodies humility, respect, and fraternity; values that echo the very spirit of our Republic. In the end, the Army–Navy Game is not about who wins or loses, but about reminding us that liberty is safeguarded by men and women who are willing to stand together, bound by duty, faith, and love of country. Their brotherhood is our shield, and their sacrifice is our inheritance.
— Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary
