#Flashback Friday: The Exchange at the Army-Navy Game
Five years ago this weekend, the Exchange became a participating partner in the Army-Navy Game presented by USAA. The Exchange Corporate Communication team, with assistance from store, Merchandising and Logistics teams, prepared all year to bring Exchange relevancy to thousands of Cadets, Midshipmen and fans, whether they were at the game or watching a national TV broadcast on CBS.
On Dec. 8, 2018, Director/CEO Tom Shull told the national audience about the Veterans online shopping benefit during an on-field interview with CBS Sports before the game. Exchange commercials, produced in-house, also aired during the game, informing viewers about the tax-free savings and military-exclusive pricing Veterans enjoy.
In person, fans saw a showcase Army-Navy Game tractor-trailer—the Exchange’s rolling billboard—and a mobile field Exchange. Fans took home swag bags touting Exchange relevancy, mission and value to the military community.
At its first game, the Exchange even brought a special guest—actor-producer Mark Wahlberg, pictured above—to highlight the Veterans online shopping benefit. In the hours before kickoff, Wahlberg a staunch military supporter whose father served in the Army during the Korean War, posed for selfies with Cadets and Midshipmen, high-fived fans and conducted a CBS Sports interview alongside Shull, where he thanked the Exchange for taking care of Warfighters, military families and Veterans.
At the 2019 game, Shull honored five Purple Heart recipients. Jeff Tonkin, Neil Van Ess, David Pereira, Walter Kaczmarek and Clark Foreid received Vet for Life blankets created specifically for the 120th game between the Army Black Knights and the Navy Midshipmen. During the on-field presentation, some 70,000 fans in attendance gave the Purple Heart recipients a rousing standing ovation. A couple of weeks later, on Jan. 1, 2020, in-store, tax-free shopping Exchange privileges were expanded to all Veterans with service-connected disabilities, Veterans who are Purple Heart recipients, Veterans who are former prisoners of war and primary family caregivers for Veterans who are enrolled in the Department of Veterans Affairs Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers.
In 2021, the Exchange presented the inaugural Quality-of-Life Force Multiplier Award to former U.S. National Security Advisor Robert “Bud” McFarlane during an on-field ceremony at the 122nd Army-Navy Game. McFarlane, who received the award for his significant contributions to Warfighters and their families, was a staunch advocate for extending a lifelong online shopping benefit to honorably discharged Veterans at ShopMyExchange.com. (Pictured, from left: McFarlane’s son, Scott; McFarlane’s wife, Jonny; McFarlane; Exchange Director/CEO Tom Shull; and Chief Master Sgt. Kevin Osby, Exchange senior enlisted advisor)
The Exchange also honored the service of six of our nation’s heroes who live in the New York/New Jersey area with tickets to the 2021 game.
The Exchange will once again share its relevancy story this weekend at the 124th Army-Navy Game. CBS will broadcast the Army-Navy Game at 3 p.m. ET Saturday, Dec. 9. The game will air live from Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., the first time in its history that it will be played in New England. A national television audience will see an Exchange commercial during the broadcast of the battle between the Army Black Knights and the Navy Midshipmen.
The Exchange Associate Flickr contains hundreds of photos from the Exchange’s participation at the Army-Navy Game. Click on the years for albums from the 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 games.
