Commanders Visit Joint Base Andrews for Final Preseason Walkthrough
JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. — The Washington Commanders will welcome the Cincinnati Bengals to FedEx Field on Saturday evening to close out each team’s preseason schedule ahead of cutdown day on Tuesday.
Before the Commanders played host, however, they paid a visit to Airmen and their families at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland just 15 minutes or so away from where the football team plays it’s home games.
“Personally it’s a very cool thing for me just because having grown up in a military family, being able to come here to say thank you for their support, their commitment, their sacrifices,” Washington coach Ron Rivera said. “It’s very important that they know we care…we just want them to know that we do appreciate who they are.”
Rivera’s affinity for the military may have its roots in his father’s service and mother’s drive to lead the family during her husband’s career, but it’s continued well into his NFL career and only grown the more his leadership roles have expanded.
Those efforts helped him win the 2022 Salute to Service Award presented by USAA.
“I humbly accept this award on behalf of my father, Eugenio Rivera, who served as a Warrant Officer in the United States Military for 32 years,” Rivera said upon receiving the award. “Having grown up in a military household, I experienced the sacrifices that military members and their families must make firsthand, and I have always wanted to use my platform to raise awareness and assist the great men and women of our armed forces and their families.”
Earlier this month during training camp Rivera and the Commanders played host to local military members who attended and competed in the USAA Salute to Service Boot Camp in the team’s indoor facility in Ashburn, Virginia.
Through these partnerships and events Washington has continued to reach out to the local military population and surrounding communities even while the fate of the franchise was in question.
Now, with the organization on a better path with a brighter future ahead the Commanders continue to take time out of their busy schedules to demonstrate their appreciation for those who support their efforts on and off the field.
Co-Founder of Harris Philanthropies and wife of new Washington managing partner Josh Harris was on hand for the practice event as well and addressed the crowd in attendance as players signed autographs and posed for photos with waiting fans.
A good day was had by all, and it was a solid way for the Commanders to get their final walkthrough in before closing out the preseason and turning their full attention to the Arizona Cardinals and Week 1 of the NFL season.
Find David Harrison on the Locked On Commanders podcast or text him directly at (202) 760-2188.
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