Celebrating 25 Years of Honor, Service, Sacrifice, and Community
Friday, September 11, 2026
Mission Viejo High School
Mission Viejo Diablos vs. Lincoln High School of San Diego
This September 11, Mission For Heroes invites our community to come together for an unforgettable evening of music, food, football, remembrance, and recognition.
The 2026 Mission For Heroes Game marks the 25th anniversary of September 11, 2001—a milestone that reminds us not only of what our country endured, but also of the courage, unity, sacrifice, and service that followed.
This is more than a football game. It is an opportunity for our students, families, and community members to personally thank the military veterans, active-duty service members, first responders, Gold Star Families, surviving family members, and community heroes who have given so much for others.
Join us early for the Concert in the Lot, enjoy dinner from local food vendors, and stay for a powerful pregame ceremony and football game honoring this year’s Mission For Heroes honorees.
Friday Night Schedule
4:30 PM — Gates Open for Concert in the Lot
Arrive early, find your place, visit our food vendors, connect with members of the community, and enjoy the atmosphere before the concert begins.
5:00–7:00 PM — Redneck Rodeo Live in Concert
Southern California’s own Redneck Rodeo will perform live during Concert in the Lot. Bring your family and friends for two hours of live country music before heading into the stadium for the evening’s recognition ceremony and football game.
7:00 PM — Kickoff Festivities and Pregame Recognition
The pregame ceremony will feature the introduction of the 2026 Konrad Reuland Community Hero Award nominees, along with special recognition of the military veterans, first responders, Gold Star Families, and community heroes being honored during this year’s event.
7:30 PM — Kickoff
The Mission Viejo Diablos will take the field against Lincoln High School of San Diego in a special Friday-night matchup dedicated to those who serve and protect our communities and country.
Concert in the Lot
The evening begins outside the stadium with a community celebration featuring live music from Redneck Rodeo, local food vendors, Mission For Heroes activities, and opportunities to learn more about the people and stories being recognized during the game.
Come hungry and enjoy food and refreshments from:
- Jimmy John's
- Taco’s and Co.
- Exclusive Taco’s
- Debbie’s Ice Cream Truck
- Additional participating food trucks and community vendors
The Concert in the Lot is designed to bring people together before the game and create a welcoming environment where families, students, veterans, first responders, and community supporters can connect.
After the concert, stay with us and enter the stadium as we shift from celebration to recognition.
The History Behind the Game
The roots of this event reach back to the days following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
During a week when the country was grieving and many events were being postponed or canceled, Mission Viejo High School and Mater Dei High School understood that high school football could provide the community with a place to gather, reflect, and begin healing together.
The game was moved to Saturday night and became much more than a competition between two highly ranked football programs. It showed how sports could unite a community during one of the most difficult moments in American history.
That belief—that the mission can be bigger than the game—continued to grow.
Over the years, Mission Viejo Football began using its platform to recognize the men and women whose service and sacrifice often go unseen. Veterans, active-duty military personnel, police officers, firefighters, first responders, Gold Star Families, and surviving family members have been welcomed onto the field and honored in front of the community.
Players have carried the names and stories of honorees with them. Families have watched as their loved ones were remembered. Veterans who had never received a proper welcome home have stood at midfield and heard an entire stadium thank them.
What began as a football game has grown into the Mission For Heroes Foundation, an organization committed to ensuring that service, sacrifice, courage, and community leadership are never forgotten.
A Jersey With a Story
One of the most meaningful traditions of the Mission For Heroes Game is the connection created between each student-athlete and the person they represent.
Mission Viejo players have the opportunity to learn the story of an honoree and carry that person’s name onto the field. This allows the next generation to understand that the uniform represents something greater than themselves.
For the honoree and their family, the jersey becomes a symbol of recognition and remembrance.
For the player, it becomes a lesson in gratitude, responsibility, service, and leadership.
For the community, it provides an opportunity to see the individual stories behind the uniform, badge, title, or sacrifice.
Honoring Our Heroes
The 2026 event will recognize heroes from throughout our community and beyond, including:
- Military veterans and active-duty service members
- Police officers, firefighters, paramedics, and first responders
- Gold Star Families and surviving family members
- September 11 survivors and those personally affected by the attacks
- Community leaders who demonstrate extraordinary service
- Families carrying forward the legacies of fallen heroes
- Organ donor advocates and individuals whose stories reflect the gift of life
These honorees are the heart of the evening. We invite everyone attending to arrive early, listen to their stories, participate in the recognition ceremony, and remain in the stadium as the Mission Viejo Diablos compete in their honor.
The Konrad Reuland Community Hero Award
Kickoff festivities will include recognition of the 2026 Konrad Reuland Community Hero Award nominees.
Konrad Reuland was a Mission Viejo High School graduate, a collegiate football player, and an NFL athlete whose legacy became much greater than the game. Following his passing, Konrad’s decision to become an organ donor helped save lives and created a powerful story of service, generosity, and human connection.
The Konrad Reuland Community Hero Award recognizes Mission Viejo student-athletes who demonstrate leadership, character, compassion, service, and a commitment to helping others.
The award is modeled around the values represented by the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award. Mission For Heroes is working to grow the Konrad Reuland Community Hero Award into a national platform that promotes community service and organ donor awareness throughout football.
The nominees introduced before kickoff represent the next generation of leaders who understand that success is not measured only by what they accomplish, but also by what they do for others.
About Mission For Heroes
Mission For Heroes was created to recognize and serve military veterans, active-duty service members, first responders, Gold Star Families, surviving family members, and community heroes.
Through football games, recognition ceremonies, scholarships, educational programs, service projects, storytelling, and community partnerships, the organization connects young people with the individuals whose courage and sacrifice have protected the freedoms and opportunities they enjoy.
Mission For Heroes has honored more than 1,000 veterans and 500 first responders, awarded scholarships to deserving student-athletes, completed community service projects, and shared the stories of heroes with thousands of students and community members.
The goal is simple but important: make sure those who serve, sacrifice, protect, and lead know that they are seen, appreciated, and remembered.
More Than a Game
Friday night football has always been about community.
On September 11, 2026, it will also be about remembrance.
It will be about a veteran hearing the words “thank you.”
It will be about a first responder standing in front of a community that appreciates their service.
It will be about a family seeing the name of a loved one carried onto the field.
It will be about student-athletes learning that the name on the front of the jersey, and the name they carry for an honoree, represent responsibilities much greater than themselves.
Come for the concert. Enjoy the food. Meet our community partners. Learn the stories of our honorees. Stay for the ceremony and the game.
Together, we will celebrate those who serve, remember those we have lost, and show the next generation that the mission will always be bigger than the game.
Event Information
Date: Friday, September 11, 2026
Location: Mission Viejo High School
Concert Gates Open: 4:30 PM
Redneck Rodeo: 5:00–7:00 PM
Kickoff Festivities: 7:00 PM
Game Kickoff: 7:30 PM
Matchup: Mission Viejo Diablos vs. Lincoln High School of San Diego
Parking, admission, accessibility, volunteer opportunities, sponsorship information, and additional event instructions will be announced as the event approaches.
Become Part of the Mission
There are many ways to support the 2026 Mission For Heroes Game. Community members, businesses, organizations, and families can participate by becoming sponsors, volunteering, donating goods or services, sharing the event, nominating an honoree, or attending the celebration.
Your support helps Mission For Heroes continue recognizing deserving heroes, sharing their stories, providing scholarships, supporting service projects, and creating meaningful experiences for honorees and their families.
Join us on September 11 as we honor the past, celebrate those who serve today, and inspire the heroes of tomorrow.
Honor. Remember. Serve. Inspire.
Mission For Heroes — The Mission Is Bigger Than the Game.
