“Every stone has a name, every sparkle represents destiny,” wrote Bild’s Sven Kuschel and Hans-Wilhelm Saure.
Gideon Kantor, a 100-year-old American veteran of World War II, was also present for Sunday’s special occasion – eight decades after he fled Vienna as a Jewish boy in 1938. Kantor was a member of the legendary American unit made up mostly of Jewish refugees that helped liberate the Ohrdrufenwald concentration camp in Buchringenwald, Germany.
Sunday’s game was the opening game of the NFL in Berlin as the Atlanta Falcons faced the Indianapolis Colts at the historic Olympic Stadium. The game ended in dramatic fashion as Indianapolis secured a 31–25 overtime victory. The stadium itself has deep historical significance as Jesse Owens won four gold medals in 1936, undermining Adolf Hitler’s attempt to use the Games as a showcase for Nazi propaganda.
NFL alumni also participated in the ceremony. Commissioner Goodell was joined by former NFL linebacker Donnie Edwards, who founded the “Best Defense Foundation” to support veterans of the United States military.
Stateside, the United States celebrated Veteran’s Day on Nov. 11, with NFL teams across the league donning their Salute to Service gear on the sidelines to remember those who have served in the U.S. military.