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Thousands filled the BJCC Arena for the 2011 Alabama Sports Festival 'God Bless the USA Celebration' Opening Ceremonies!

Lee Greenwood performed at the 2011 Alabama Sports Festival Opening Ceremonies!

It’s the proverbial “Match made in Heaven” - Mom’s apple pie, hot dogs and the Red, White & Blue...Lee Greenwood and the Alabama Sports Festival! The patriotic, spirited and emotional tenor of American music superstar Lee Greenwood will fill the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex main arena during Opening Ceremonies for the 2011 Alabama Sports Festival State Games.

Few artists have ever written a song that has become more a part of America’s cultural landscape than Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA.” If he’d never written or recorded another hit, Greenwood would have secured his place in music history with that powerful inspiring ballad. Opening Ceremonies this year was filled with patriotism, solemnity, honor and excitement celebrating America, our troops and remembering the victims of 9/11 and the tornadoes.

Special Guest, Navy Seal Founder, Richard Marcinko Receives the Healing Hands Award

Richard Marcinko, who attended the United States Air Force Air Command & Staff College at Maxwell Air Force Base, in Montgomery, Alabama, holds a Masters degree in political science from Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, and founded U.S. Navy SEAL Team Six that killed Osama Bin Laden, was the honored guest at the Alabama Sports Festival 29th State Games opening Ceremonies on Friday, June 24, 2011.

Read more about the Healing Hands Award...

Introducing the Alabama Sports Wall of Honor!

We will also honor six of Alabama’s finest athletes and coaches. The Governor, Alabama Legislature, Alabama Sports Festival, and the Governor's Commission on Physical Fitness have officially established, by House Joint Resolution-40, the Alabama Sports Wall of Honor which recognizes outstanding athletic achievement by those who bring high honor and acclaim to Alabama. The inaugural class of honorees is the head football coach of the University of Alabama, Nick Saban, in honor of the Crimson Tide's 2009 undefeated 14-0 season which resulted in a BCS National Football Championship; Auburn University head football coach Gene Chizik, in honor of the Tigers' 2010 undefeated 14-0 season which resulted in a BCS National Football Championship. Additional honorees are the 2009 Heisman Trophy winner, Mark Ingram of the University of Alabama and the 2010 Heisman Trophy winner, Cameron Newton of Auburn University, the first ever back-to-back Heisman Trophy winners from the same state. Also, the 1971 Heisman Trophy winner, Pat Sullivan of Auburn University and the 1985 Heisman Trophy winner, Bo Jackson of Auburn University will be inducted. Alabama artist Justin Dodge of Gadsden has painted oil portraits of each honoree. HJR-40 directs that the Alabama Sports Festival is the administrator of the Alabama Sports Wall of Honor which shall permanently display these portraits inside the Alabama State House.