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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NFL TO DONATE $250,000
TO USO IN MEMORY OF PAT TILLMAN Washington, D.C. – The National Football League will donate $250,000 to the United Service Organizations (USO) in memory of former Arizona Cardinals player and Army Ranger PAT TILLMAN, the NFL announced this evening at the annual USO gala at the Washington Hilton. The grant will be used to build a USO facility – tentatively named the “Pat Tillman USO Center” in Afghanistan to honor the memory of Tillman, who was killed in combat on April 22 in the region. Currently, there is no such morale and recreation center to serve the estimated 20,000 men and women of the U.S. military in Afghanistan. NFL Commissioner PAUL TAGLIABUE conceived of the idea for the center last May while visiting U.S. bases in Germany and initiated discussions with the USO shortly thereafter. “We have been associated with the USO since our first players tour to Vietnam in 1966 and are proud to extend our support in memory of Pat Tillman in this tangible way,” said Tagliabue. “Pat personified the best values of America and the National Football League. He was an extraordinary team player – whether it was with the Arizona Cardinals or Army Rangers. This is part of Pat’s tremendous legacy to his extended military family.” Tillman, who played four seasons with the Arizona Cardinals, enlisted in the U.S. Army in 2002. “The USO is extremely pleased to have the National Football League join us in our efforts to connect the people of America with its defenders,” said NED POWELL, president and CEO of the USO World Headquarters. “This donation will help expand our mission to a critical area, and support U.S. forces serving in Afghanistan. We are proud to honor the memory of Pat Tillman in this way.” Senator JOHN MC CAIN (R-Arizona) was among the speakers at Tillman’s memorial service last May. “I can think of no better way to honor the service and patriotism displayed by Pat Tillman and all of the men and women serving in Afghanistan than to construct the USO center in their honor,” said Senator McCain in a recent letter to Commissioner Tagliabue. Tillman served tours in Iraq and Afghanistan before being killed in April in the Khost province of Afghanistan during a firefight with insurgents. He is the first NFL player to be killed in combat since the Vietnam War, and the first NFL veteran since World War II to receive the Silver Star, one of the nation’s highest honors for gallantry, valor and heroism. “I believe a USO center in Afghanistan would serve as a fitting tribute to Corporal Tillman’s bravery and sacrifice,” General RICHARD B. MYERS, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, wrote in recent correspondence with the NFL. “Please accept our heartfelt appreciation for the continued support the National Football League provides our service men and women and their families.” In 1965, NFL Commissioner PETE ROZELLE – seeking ways to demonstrate the league’s support for America’s fighting forces -- conceived of the idea of sending NFL players to Vietnam on “goodwill tours.” The following year, the NFL teamed with the USO and became the first sports organization to send a group of players to Vietnam and other parts of Asia. From 1966 until the removal of forces in Vietnam in 1973, players spent up to three-and-one-half weeks visiting remote firebases, aircraft carriers, and other installations in Vietnam, Guam, Thailand, and Japan. Since then, NFL active and retired players and cheerleaders have made numerous USO tours, visiting troops in Somalia, Bosnia, Italy, South Korea, Japan, Germany, Kuwait, Iraq, Qatar and other locations. Commissioner Tagliabue visited U.S. bases in Germany earlier this year with TODD HEAP of the Baltimore Ravens and WARRICK DUNN and KEITH BROOKING of the Atlanta Falcons. In addition, MARCO RIVERA of the Green Bay Packers joined retired NFL player and current Fox Sports analyst BRIAN BALDINGER on a tour of U.S. installations in Kuwait and Qatar this summer.
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