Rebirth
I was honored to receive one of the 4,000 virtual cache rewards given out by Geocaching HQ. I knew that I wanted to place this cache in a place that was special to me. This location is perfect.
In a city known for its statues, there is one that stands above all others for me. Although only erected in 2012, it symbolizes everything about New Orleans that I love. This statue casts in bronze a moment that, for many, symbolizes a turning point (or more appropriately the returning point) for the Saints franchise and an entire city.
New Orleans has always been my home away from home. I grew up in northern Louisiana, where my mom raised me to be a Saints fan. Times weren't easy for Saints fans back then. We had the Dome Patrol, and gritty Cajun quarterbacks like Bobby Hebert and John Fourcade, but we could never get that first playoff win. Still, we traveled to New Orleans for one Saints game a year. After I became an adult, I've traveled so frequently to New Orleans for work that the Superdome has almost become like my next door neighbor.
On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina devastated the New Orleans area. Around 9,000 people took shelter in the Superdome as the city was literally washed away around them. Even the Superdome wasn't spared, as a giant hole was ripped in the iconic roof.
After the waters receded and the Superdome was evacuated, it became clear that the Saints would not be playing any games at home any time soon. What was unclear was if they would ever return. As late as October, Saints owner Tom Benson publicly stated that he had not made any decisions about the future of the franchise. Behind closed doors, sources close to Benson said that he was seriously considering declaring the Superdome unusable, voiding his lease with the city, and moving the team to San Antonio. Louisiana and the NFL were already working to make sure that didn't happen.
Uncertainty continued until January 2006, when NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue announced that the Saints would play all of their home games in 2006 at the Superdome. In February, it was announced that the first game back home would be on September 24, 2006. To make it even sweeter, this game would be on Monday night against the team's greatest rival, the Atlanta Falcons. For the first time ever, the Saints fully sold out the Superdome with season tickets.
I remember my anticipation for this Monday night game was at an all-time high. I remember how I felt when the pregame hype talked about how proudly New Orleans fought back against Katrina. I remember the goosebumps when Green Day and U2 took the stage and sung "The Saints Are Coming" (watch the video here...and try not to get misty). I remember the crowd going insane at kickoff. But what I remember more than anything was what happened next.
After failing to convert a first down, the Atlanta Falcons lined up to punt. Steve Gleason ran a stunt around center and came into the backfield almost completely untouched. Gleason stretched out completely, blocking the punt and sending it bouncing back toward the Falcons' end zone. The Saints recovered in the end zone for a touchdown. Within the first two minutes of the first game back in the Superdome, the Saints were back with a vengeance. They went on to win the game running away.
The crowd went crazy. The broadcasters simply went silent for over a minute to let the TV audience experience the emotions. Over a year of frustrations, loss, heartbreak and uncertainty were released with that first Saints touchdown. Do yourself a favor and watch NFL Film's review of the play.
For a city so closely tied to its football team, I believe that there was more than a game going on that night. I believe that the moment when Steve Gleason blocked the punt was the moment the city knew the Saints had survived to come back stronger. I believe it was symbolically the moment we knew New Orleans was going to come back stronger. I believe that night was the birth of the Saints' "I BELIEVE" slogan. I believe that moment was truly a "REBIRTH."
Years later, at the dedication of the REBIRTH statue, owner Tom Benson said, "This statue is symbolic of the Rebirth of our city, our region, our home, our team. This statue reminds us of a cherished night and one of the most amazing plays in the proud history of this franchise. It will be here for everyone to view coming into, out of or past the Mercedes-Benz Superdome to see and rekindle the feelings we shared that evening. This statue will be an everlasting tribute to the spirit of the ‘Rebirth’ legacy and what it stands for and of Steve’s lasting impact on the lives he has helped touch and inspire.”
After their victory over the Falcons, the Saints went on to reach the NFC Championship game for the first time. Just three years later, they would win their first Super Bowl.
Steve Gleason finished a successful NFL career as a special teams standout. In 2011, he was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease). Steve has continued to fight until this day, and his Team Gleason foundation has worked to raise awareness and funds for this terrible, debilitating disease. Even in adversity, he continues to be a hero.
As a final note, take a look at the punter in the statue. You'll notice there are no identifying logos of the opposing team. The Falcons denied the Saints permission to use their trademarks, proving they will always be the hated rival. But, too bad, Falcons. We all know who you are. WHO DAT SAY DEY GONNA BEAT DEM SAINTS?!?
How to Log This Cache
Take time to pay tribute to Steve Gleason, the Saints, New Orleans, and the remembered victims of Katrina. To log this cache, you simply need to post a picture of yourself at the REBIRTH statue. There is no need to show your face. However, you must have some evidence in the photo that you were at the location (include your GPS, a sign, a hand signal, etc). Any logs without a picture will be deleted.
If you'd like to share a special Katrina and/or Saints memory in your log, that would be awesome.
Virtual Reward - 2017/2018
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between August 24, 2017 and August 24, 2018. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards on the Geocaching Blog.