Photo: Suzanne Sausville (WBZ NewsRadio)
FOXBORO, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — Hours before Saturday's historic Army-Navy Game at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, a special tailgate fundraiser was held across the street for a national organization that serves veterans and their families.
3,000 people packed into the Rodman Lot to support the Travis Manion Foundation, named after a U.S. Naval Academy graduate who was killed in 2007 while serving his second tour in Iraq.
Manion's sister, Ryan, is the foundation's CEO. She used to attend Army-Navy games with her brother when he was a Midshipman.
"To continue that tradition and be here, I’m wearing his letterman sweater here today," Manion told WBZ NewsRadio. "What I always say about this game is, we’re two teams fighting for the win today, but at the end of the day, we’re one team."
1 of 2 Photo: Suzanne Sausville (WBZ NewsRadio)
2 of 2 Photo: Suzanne Sausville (WBZ NewsRadio)
The tailgate featured live music, food, and drinks, raising more than $100,000 for the foundation.
"The money goes back to all of our programs, so programs on leadership development, support programs for veterans, expeditions for families of the fallen," Manion said. "It’s important that we continue to bring awareness to the men and women that put the uniform on each and every day and step out to serve and protect us."
Steven, who attended the tailgate, got choked up thinking about his son, a West Point graduate now stationed in Colorado.
"They’re all great young men and women," said Steven. "You think of the dedication and the service that they commit to. Special kids."
WBZ's Suzanne Sausville (@WBZSausville) reports.
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