By: Prah Banks
This past April 13th was the 20th anniversary of the Pat Tillman run—or “Pat’s Run” being established. An entire event dedicated to one man, the foundation it has stood on for almost two decades continues to preserve his legacy.
Patrick Daniel Tillman Jr. was a confident and record-breaking starter for the Arizona Cardinals for four seasons from 1998 to 2002. According to pattillmanfoundation.org, “The Arizona Cardinals agreed, and selected Pat in the 7th round of the 1998 NFL Draft. Many people doubted his ability to deliver as a starter on the Cardinal’s opening-day roster. He answered that skepticism by becoming the team’s starting safety and broke the franchise record for tackles in 2000 with 224.”
He went on to put his 3.6-million-dollar football career on hold in early 2002 after the devastating 9/11 attack in 2001 to enlist in the military with his brother Kevin. Britannica.com states that Tillman was “moved to examine his priorities.”
Tillman in an interview provided by pattillmanfoundation.org further concludes that “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.”
Sadly though, on April 22nd of 2004, Tillman died in Spera, Afghanistan by friendly fire. Pattillmanfoundcation.org elaborates his passing, “His heroic efforts to provide cover for fellow soldiers as they escaped from the canyon led to his untimely and tragic death via fratricide.” He was only 27 years old at the time of his death.
However, his family made sure that his untimely legacy would live on for military soldiers and their families. Held in Tempe, Arizona, according to pattillmanfoundation.org, Pat’s run consists of “a 4.2 Mile Run/Walk that winds through the streets of Tempe ending inside Sun Devil Stadium.”
For the past 20 years, this foundation has invested in military veterans and their spouses through academic scholarships in honor of the late Pat Tillman, from azfamily.com.
According to pattillmanfoundation.org, “Pat’s Run annually raises $1 million in support of the Tillman Scholars program.”
Honorary hero Pat Tillman in his football and military uniform.
Photo from: outkick.com
Thirsty for Knowledge? Quench that Thirst! 