Ice hockey match of loyalty, duty and team spirit
A tangible wave of excitement rippled through the stands at Luxembourg's Kockelscheuer ice rink on Saturday evening as two ice hockey teams skated onto the ice.
With their gleaming skates and fresh jerseys, the players were prepared for anything, but the friends and families who packed the stands knew this was no ordinary game.
"For the second time, a hockey game will take place between the Tornado Luxembourg and the Spangdahlem Air Base Varsity Ice Hockey Team in honour of veterans, whether they served their country as soldiers, firefighters or police officers," the US Embassy said in a press release.
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The annual Veteran's Day Hockey Game was made especially poignant as it came in the wake of Trident Juncture, NATO's largest military exercise since the Cold War, in which both countries participated.
During the opening ceremony, the crowd proudly rose to their feet as US ambassador Randy Evans made his way to the center of the ice where, flanked by members of the military, he stood hat-over-heart while both countries' national anthems were played.
This moment, with both teams lined up in center ice playing tribute to the other's sacrifices and contributions, embodied the very spirit that has brought the two countries closer together through the great challenges of the last century.
"Understanding the meaning of loyalty, duty, and team spirit, Tornado Luxembourg together with its faithful partners continues to consider this game as a great opportunity to strengthen the diplomatic relations between the United States and Luxembourg and to promote a sport that so many people, on both sides of the Atlantic, love dearly," the Luxembourg team stated.
Although Luxembourg ultimately delivered a decisive win on Saturday, we can be sure that the Spangdahlem Team will be back next year to try to give Tornado Luxembourg a run for their money.
