Coin JFK Would Have Tossed In 1963 Army-Navy Game Will be Used 50 Years Later
Source: Alabama.com- 1 hour ago
The 1963 Army-Navy game is remembered for its dramatic ending and the atmosphere in which it was played. The event occurred just 15 days after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, who was set to toss the coin to start the game. Kennedy was assassinated eight days before he was set to participate in the coin toss prior to the 1963 Army-Navy game at Municipal Stadium in Philadelphia. The Pentagon moved the game back to Dec. 7 following his death, and, one week after the game, Midshipman Tom Lynch received an unexpected package. Inside was a Lady Liberty silver dollar and a letter from Cyrus Vance, who was secretary of the Army at the time. The letter read:
9 December 1963 Dear Midshipman Lynch,
I am forwarding the coin which the late President Kennedy would have used and would have presented to you had he made the toss of the coin at the Army-Navy football game this year. Please accept this memento of a memorable football game.
With best wishes, Sincerely, Cyrus R. Vance, Secretary of the Army
A framed copy of the letter and coin was kept at Lynch's house and traveled with him during his 31-year Navy career. He has now decided to donate the silver dollar to the Naval Academy and today, as the two teams ready to square off just after the 50th anniversary of Kennedy's assassination, Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel will use it in pregame ceremonies. "I had the coin in my possession for 50 years and that was long enough. That's a piece of Army-Navy game history and I just felt it would be meaningful to give that coin back to the Naval Academy so it could be seen publicly from now on," Lynch said.
Read more: http://blog.al.com/breaking/2013/12/coin_that_jfk_would_have_tosse.html
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