Memorial Day Remembering Pat Tillman
" Somewhere inside, we hear a voice. It leads us in the direction of the person we wish to become. But it is up to us whether or not to follow." - Pat Tillman
Pat Tillman. When you hear that name what goes through your mind? Football player, Sun Devil, Arizona Cardinal, brave, sacrifice, hero? For me, it is all of those words. Today, on Memorial Day we honor those who have lost their lives while serving this great country. Pat Tillman lost his life while serving in Afghanistan on April 22nd, 2004.
Tillman’s story doesn’t end when he lost his life. He is an inspiration to so many to this day. He attended Arizona State University on a football scholarship He was considered small for his position while playing linebacker at ASU, but Tillman excelled at it. He never let anything stop him from being great and doing his best. His junior year, he not only helped lead his team to an undefeated regular season, but also to the Rose Bowl. Tillman didn’t just excel on the football field, but also in the classroom. In 1997, He was voted Pac-10 Defensive Player of The Year and Arizona States MVP Academically. He graduated in three and a half years with a 3.85 GPA.
“ Passion is kind of an important word for me, whether it’s playing sports or whether it’s just living or whatever you’re going to do. In my opinion you should be passionate about it or else, why do it? ” - Pat Tillman
From ASU, Pat Tillman went on to be drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the 1998 NFL Draft. He played for the RedBirds from 1998-2001. It was 911 that changed everything. I am sure that most of us can remember where we were or what we were doing when we heard or saw the news of 911. Pat went on to finish the 2001 NFL season, but that would be the last of his football career. In 2002, he turned down 3.6 million from the Cardinals to enlist in the US Army and fight for our country. The true sacrifice. We are free, because of the brave.
On #MemorialDay we remember Pat Tillman, who turned down $3.6 million over three years from the Cardinals to enlist in the U.S. Army and serve his country.
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) May 25, 2020
He was killed in Afghanistan on April 22, 2004. pic.twitter.com/2yeiJ5ZpXx
Pat and his brother Kevin enlisted on May 31st, 2002. Pat was deployed to Iraq in 2003, as part of the initial invasion into Iraqi as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He was later redeployed to Afghanistan in 2004. He was killed on April 22nd, 2004.
Arizona State University has set up many ways to honor Pat Tillman’s legacy. There is the Pat’s Run which is an annual 4.2 mile race that honors his life and raises money to support veteran and dependent scholarships, there is the Pat Tillman Veteran Center and the Tillman Tunnel and Statue.
Pat wore the #42 as an Arizona State Sun Devil and to this day, any time I see the number 42 anywhere, I think of the hero and the sacrifice he made for my freedom.
“ Passion is what makes life interesting, what ignites our souls, fuels our loves and carries our friendships, stimulates our intellect and pushes our limits..” - Pat Tillman
