George W. Bush to Open NFL With 9/11 Tribute

By Emma Koonse , Christian Post Reporter

September 9, 2011|9:25 pm

Former President George W. Bush has been announced as special guest to open the National Football League’s festivities Sunday with a 9/11 tribute feature.

The two-minute clip will air on Fox in lieu of the 10-year anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in New York City, Washington and Pennsylvania.

The tribute will air at the beginning of Fox’s pregame NFL coverage and will include members of the FDNY, NYPD, and NY/NJ Port Authority Police.

Last week, Bush recorded the clip from his home near Dallas, Texas. The 43rd president of the United States will talk about “heroism, perseverance and recovery.”

Also ahead of the 1 p.m. ET NFL game Sunday, Fox will feature a piece narrated by actor Robert DeNiro. The New York native and Academy Award winner will commence a moment of silence in honor of those lost on 9/11.

In addition, Fox will broadcast a ceremony to take place at Arlington National Cemetery, and will air the playing of taps from Shanksville, Penn. later in the day.

The NFL games begin on CBS and FOX Sunday at 1 p.m., and will include the Washington Redskins and New York Jets game which will follow Bush’s tribute.

The 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks has authorities in major cities, especially New York and Washington, on high alert.

Checkpoints will be scattered throughout New York City in response to threats related to the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.

President Obama ordered increased vigilance following news of the threat in a U.S. counterterrorism effort in New York City Friday. Police are scattered throughout New York, and city residents are familiar with random searches on belongings at the subway station.

Raymond Kelly, New York City Police Commissioner, told CNN: “We have to be concerned. Terrorism is theater and this is a stage, right now probably the world’s biggest stage.”

“We have the opening of the 9/11 memorial, the president and two former presidents here, obviously a lot of high profile public officials will be here,” continued Kelly. “So we have to be concerned.”