Many of you know whether it’s for the Semper Fi Fund to help wounded warriors, or for local charities, I run races not just for the betterment of my physical self but to benefit a charitable cause.
Such was the case last weekend when I travelled to Phoenix, Arizona to run the 8th Annual Pat’s Run to benefit The Pat Tillman Foundation.
You may remember Pat Tillman. In fact, how could you forget him? He was a star football player from Arizona who gave up a lucrative NFL contract after 9/11 to enlist in the ARMY to serve his country. He was a beacon of hope, the best America had to offer in the face of terrorism and the cowardice that it represents.
I remember what impressed me most about Tillman was that he enlisted in the ARMY as a regular bloke, asking for no special treatment, but quickly worked his way up to become an elite ARMY Ranger. Sadly, Tillman was killed in Afghanistan in an unfortunate tragedy. A tragedy which his family did their level best to turn into something positive. And lasting. So when I saw that a memorial race in his honor was still going strong more than a decade after 9/11, I knew I had to check it out.
So did 35,000 other inspired Americans.
I couldn’t believe my eyes when I got to the starting line. I had expected a few thousand runners, tops. After all, this was a local race, set in the tiny town of Tempe, a college town. But when I approached the race grounds, to my amazement appeared a sea of red t-shirts as far as the eye could see. And I mean as far as the eye could see. I have witnessed the crowds at the nationally-renowned Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, D.C. , a national, critically-acclaimed race that has been around for 30 years. I never expected the Pat Tillman run to rival that legendary race. But it did. And it showed me the power of one person, that one person truly can have an effect on thousands upon thousands of others who will then answer the call to service. Perhaps not in the strong way that Tillman did. But in our own 35,000 small ways.
The Pat Tillman Foundation did a remarkable job honoring the memory of this fallen hero. Every detail was meticulous. From the 100-foot-tall replica of Pat’s football jersey which adorned the side of a building near the starting line, to the exact 4.2 mile course (representing his football number #42), to the music that piped through speakers, which somehow seemed as if it could have come from Pat Tillman’s mp3 player itself. It was as if he was there. The organizers left no stone unturned when it came to matters of the heart. You felt his presence.
You also felt a palpable sense that Americans still wish to do more, be more, give more, just as Pat gave. As I ran, I witnessed military men rucksacking the entire race, in full military camo gear and heavy boots, in the 90-degree Arizona heat to honor of their fallen brother. And I noticed several first responders from NYFD’s Brooklyn Engine Company #238 that came out from New York to honor him. It left a lump in my throat as thousands upon thousands of men, women, and children of all ages streamed out of the starting gates and then later streamed into the famous Sun Devil Stadium toward the finish line Tillman.
At the end of the day, the organizers raised funds toward their ultimate goal of $3.9 Million – the amount that Pat Tillman turned down in an NFL contract to join the ARMY. Those funds will now help returning troops and their spouses return to school to better their lives. I encourage you to visit The Pat Tillman Foundation today and give $42 in honor of his NFL number, to benefit the troops.
God Bless America, and may God be blessing Pat Tillman somehwere right now.
No comments:
Post a Comment