This year, an iconic sports rivalry comes to New England for the first time in the game’s 124-year history. The Army-Navy Game will take place at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. on December 9. 

This contest between Army and Navy is more than a game. Whether wearing football uniforms or fatigues, the athletes who take the field are committed to their team but more than that have sworn to preserve promises made in the Constitution’s preamble.

To celebrate this moment in history, The Boston Globe has put together a special section meant to honor the tradition, valor, and camaraderie inherent in this century-old rivalry. Explore the stories behind the game, the athletes, and the spirit of this historic match below.