Me merikadetit

The sculpture of a Native American was the figurehead of USS Delaware which was burned in 1861 at the Gosport Navy Yard to prevent its capture by the Confederacy at the start of the Civil War. In 1868, the saved figurehead, officially titled Tamanend, Chief of the Delaware Indians, was transferred to the United States Naval Academy. In 1929, the sculpture was cast in bronze at the U.S. Naval Gun Factory, and presented by the Class of 1891. As Tamanend was a pacifist and friend to William Penn, he did not inspire the midshipmen of the Academy, and they eventually named the figurehead Tecumseh after the Shawnee warrior chief and ally of the British, who was killed in the Battle of the Thames during the War of 1812. To this day, Midshipmen toss pennies at the monument for good luck in their examinations and Army-Navy football games.

Near the end of the climactic Army-Navy game, Navy scores a touchdown and extra point to tie the score at 7 late in the game. The next scene has Army then kicking off to Navy. This is, of course, incorrect as Navy would be kicking to Army following the score.

Featured in Great Performances: James Stewart: A Wonderful Life (1987)