3 NFL Superstars Are Going Above and Beyond To Help Military Veterans
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees and Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce are among the NFL stars rewarding military veterans with trips to Super Bowl LIII in Atlanta.
Through USAA, they will be joined by Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey, Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins, Denver Broncos quarterback Case Keenum, Atlanta Falcons coach Dan Quinn and former Cleveland Browns great Joe Thomas in honoring the veterans for their service.
Like me, Coast Guard CWO (ret) Jay McKenzie is retired & always wanted to go to the Super Bowl. Working with @USAA & @USONorthenOhio we made Jay’s dream come true with 2 tix to #SBLIII. #SaluteToService pic.twitter.com/9Il8KBbQ7n
— Joe Thomas (@joethomas73) January 28, 2019
Fitzgerald is bringing Army Lt. Jameson Lopez to Atlanta. Lopez was responsible for coordinating more than 300 combat missions with the Iraqi and Kurdish security forces.
“Teaming up with USAA and The Pat Tillman Foundation to honor military veterans this year has been a very rewarding experience for me, first with My Cause My Cleats, and now with a Super Bowl ticket giveaway,” Fitzgerald said. “I had the opportunity to meet Jameson Lopez earlier this year and I’m happy to be able to help send him on a trip of a lifetime to the Super Bowl.”
Brees, teaming with the USO, is rewarding a Saints fan, hardly a surprise. Retired Army Sgt. Patrick Gray won several medals for his work in Afghanistan.
A Force Behind the Forces and @Saints quarterback @drewbrees teamed up with @USAA and the USO to send retired Sergeant First Class Patrick Gray to the Super Bowl LIII in Atlanta: https://t.co/wOkH5FGcW0 #SaluteToService pic.twitter.com/GS3LN5PjYD
— USO (@the_USO) January 31, 2019
“As a lifelong Saints fan who has served our country for 20 years, this is simply a small way to say thank you,” Brees said.
Kelce’s recipient of a Super Bowl trip is former Army Sgt. Patrick Benson, a Bronze Star winner who founded the nonprofit War Horses for Veterans after he left the service.
“Sgt. Patrick Benson first served his country in the Army and now he continues his service by helping fellow veterans as they return home,” Kelce said. “In honor of his service, I am pleased to award, with the help of USAA and the VFW, a trip to the Super Bowl to Sgt. Benson.”
Many ups and downs as a football player. But this is one of those ups – working with @USAA & @VFWHQ to present a pair of tickets to #SBLIII to Army veteran Patrick Benson, co-founder of War Horses for Vets. Much deserved. #SaluteToService pic.twitter.com/fDUr8GffZn
— Travis Kelce (@tkelce) January 24, 2019
Quinn, a recipient of the NFL’s Salute to Service Award, worked with TAPS (Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors) to honor Zachary Boland, a Marine private who died in 2016.
The sacrifices of our military include their families too. Honored & humbled to present 2 tix to #SuperBowLIII on behalf of @USAA & @TAPSorg to Army veteran Robert Boland & his son Nathaniel, a Marine. They lost a son & a brother, @USMC Zach Boland, in 2016. #SaluteToService pic.twitter.com/2Hj1eFFlIO
— Dan Quinn (@FalconsDQ) January 28, 2019
“Zachary Boland made the ultimate sacrifice, passing away during training, but his commitment to our country lives on courtesy of his father Bob, who served in the Army, and his brother Nathaniel, a current Marine,” Quinn said. “It’s a special privilege to team up with USAA and TAPS to award Bob and Nathaniel a trip to the Super Bowl.”
The Western Journal has reviewed this Associated Press story and may have altered it prior to publication to ensure that it meets our editorial standards.
Truth and Accuracy
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.
Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. Advertise Today.
