U.S. Army Runners Make Bergen County Stops, Visit 9/11 Memorials

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — A team of runners from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point made early-morning stops at 9/11 Memorials around Bergen County Friday on their way to Met-Life Stadium for Saturday’s Army-Navy football game.

While their purpose was to carry the game ball that will be used in the annual playing of America's Game between the two military academies, the significance of this year's game carries deeper meaning. Which meant more stops for the team carrying the ball for Army on Friday.

In Wyckoff, police officers escorted cadets carrying the game ball for Saturday’s game through town at 2:30 a.m., according to a social media post. Runners made a special stop at the Dana Hannon 9-11 for a wreath presentation.

The runners also stopped in Glen Rock at 3 a.m. and also laid a wreath at the 9/11 Memorial at Veteran’s Park on Main Street. Officers from Glen Rock, Hawthorne, Midland Park and Ridgewood also attended the wreath-laying ceremony. The marathon team from West Point also made its way through Mahwah during their early-morning route toward East Rutherford.

Glen Rock lost 11 residents in the 9/11 terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center a tragedy that Glen Rock Police Chief Dean Ackermann said will never leave the thoughts of community members in a township of 11,000 people.

For Ackermann, Friday morning's stop by the U.S. Army runners was special.

"While the cadets did not ask for any fanfare or assistance, it was the privilege of the Glen Rock PD night tour to be on-site to greet them," Ackermann wrote in an email on Friday. "Also, shout out to the members of the Ridgewood, Hawthorne and Midland Park PD’s for joining us in welcoming the cadets. And last but certainly not least, thank you to all the residents who showed up and gave them a warm welcome."

According to the U.S. Military Academy’s Facebook page, the Army Marathon Team received the game ball on Thursday and departed West Point for a 150-mile journey to Met-Life Stadium, which included trips along the way at various 9/11 memorials.

The annual Army-Navy football game is typically played in Philadelphia but is being played in New Jersey for the first time since 2004 to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.