The Philadelphia Blue Flame police and fire football team will pay tribute to a slain officer and former team member on Saturday, March 31, in the annual Sgt. Patrick McDonald Memorial Game at Lincoln Financial Field.
Proceeds from the game will support a scholarship fund established in McDonald’s name.
Philadelphia will face New York in the contest with kickoff scheduled for 4 p.m. It will be the Blue Flame’s 2012 season opener.
Admission to the game costs $10. Tickets are available at the gate or by calling 267–278–0589.
Sgt. Patrick McDonald was a member of the Philadelphia Police Highway Unit and former football player for Liberty Bell Patriots and Archbishop Ryan High School (Class of 1996). He earned a bachelor of science in criminal justice from St. Joseph’s University.
On Sept. 23, 2008, a state prison parolee who was wanted on new felony charges shot and killed McDonald as the officer chased him on a North Philadelphia street. A fellow Highway Patrol officer shot and killed the suspect during an ensuing gun battle.
In addition to the Sgt. Patrick McDonald Memorial Game, the Blue Flame will face the Chicago Blaze (away, April 14), the Atlanta Defenders in Washington, D.C., for National Police Week (May 12), the San Diego Enforcers in the Wildwood “War at the Shore” (May 26) and the Charlotte Cobras at Franklin Field (June 9). ••
