Fifteen years ago, in the aftermath of one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in the United States, in a time of extreme vulnerability, some turned to the one constant in their lives: sports. As the country reeled after 9/11, families affected by the tragedy wrote letters to the New York Giants. In the NFL season kickoff that began on the 15th anniversary of September 11, Fox tapped Victor Cruz to pay tribute to them. According to journalist Art Stapleton, the Giants kept letters it received from 9/11 families. Cruz read excerpts of correspondence between these families and the late Giants co-owner Wellington Mara in a short, but powerful tribute before the 1 p.m. ET start.
As The Cinematic Orchestra’s “To Build a Home” played in the background, Cruz read letters from people who described what the team meant to the loved ones they lost and thanked the Giants for their support during such a trying time. The emotional clip ends with Cruz reading, “We will never forget the lives that were lost, and we will always remember the sacrifice of those heroic men and women.” Watch the full clip above.
