A MESSAGE FROM Liz
Heading back to the finish line of my very first marathon for my 30th 26.2 and couldn't think of a better way to do so than in honor of #42 as a part of Team Tillman!
It's hard to summarize Pat Tillman's story and legacy, but I'll try!
After leading Arizona State University (my alma mater, go Devils!) to the Rose Bowl, Pat went on to play for the Arizona Cardinals.
While playing for the Cardinals and the day after the attacks of September 11, 2001, Pat told a reporter, “At times like this you stop and think about just how good we have it, what kind of system we live in, and the freedoms we are allowed. A lot of my family has gone and fought in wars and I really haven’t done a damn thing.” In the spring of 2002, Pat announced to the Cardinals he had decided to place his NFL career on hold to enlist in the U.S. Army.
On the evening of April 22, 2004, Pat’s unit was ambushed as it traveled through the rugged, canyon terrain of eastern Afghanistan. His heroic efforts to provide cover for fellow soldiers as they escaped from the canyon led to his untimely and tragic death via fratricide.
While the story of Pat’s death may have been the most publicized in the War on Terror, it is Pat’s life, principles and service that are his true legacy. Pat’s family and friends started the Pat Tillman Foundation to carry forward that legacy by giving military service members, veterans and spouses who embody those principles the educational tools and support to reach their fullest potential as leaders, no matter how they choose to serve.
Your contribution will directly impact the lives of Tillman Scholars and their communities nationwide. Please visit www.pattillmanfoundation.org to learn more about the impact of Tillman Scholars in their second act of service.
Thank you for your support!
