Former President George W. Bush takes part in Cowboys coin toss for military museum
As part of the “Salute to Service” game, the Dallas Cowboys and the Denver Broncos held a number of tributes to honor the military and to help promote the National Medal of Honor Museum, which will break ground on construction in the stadium district here early next year.
Former President George W. Bush and former First Lady Laura Bush took part in Sunday’s coin flip, and the Cowboys wore a red stripe on their helmets to honor the U.S. Armed Forces and Medal of Honor recipients during Sunday’s game at AT&T Stadium.
Both teams wore Medal of Honor decals on the backs of their helmets to help promote the National Medal of Honor Museum, which will break ground in Arlington in 2022. Players will also wore an emblem for the NFL’s “Salute to Service” and the American flag on their helmets.
The last time the Cowboys wore a red stripe on their helmets (over one of two blue stripes) was 1976. The inclusion of the red stripe creates a red, white and blue look on the helmet. The Cowboys wore the red, white and blue stripes the entire 1976 season to celebrate America’s Bicentennial.
Eight Medal of Honor recipients were in attendance Sunday and took part in halftime ceremonies along with current representatives of the U.S. Armed Forces.
“This will truly be a special day for all of us as we salute the men and women around the world who protect and defend our country,” Cowboys executive vice president Charlotte Jones said in a release distributed before the game. “We are honored to have our Medal of Honor recipients in attendance, representing the 3,508 recipients of the nation’s most prestigious military decoration, who made heroic sacrifices, many the ultimate sacrifice, while preserving our freedom.
“The red stripe on the helmet provides a beautiful ribbon to wrap around this salute to those who currently serve our country’s military — and the patriotic love and appreciation that we all share for those who came before them.”
Jones serves at the chairwoman of the Medal of Honor Museum’s board and has led the funding campaign for the construction. More than $116 million of the targeted goal of $195 million has been secured, according to the Cowboys.
A promotional campaign to help raise funds debuted during the game’s broadcast and on the AT&T Stadium videoboard that includes former presidents Bush, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama.
This story was originally published November 7, 2021 at 12:09 PM.
