Jan 3, 2013; Glendale, AZ, USA; General view of the statue of Pat Tillman before the 2013 Fiesta Bowl between the Oregon Ducks and the Kansas State Wildcats at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports
This past weekend in San Jose, California, there was a run to benefit the Pat Tillman Foundation. Tillman was a defensive back with the Arizona State Sun Devils and the Arizona Cardinals. By now, everyone knows his story of how he quit the Cardinals to serve in the military after 9-11. What happened during the run was something special and I felt worth sharing with Cardinals fans and others.
Joe Bell, a 95-year old WWII veteran came out to salute Tillman and the runners who had come out to support his foundation in the run. Bell was dressed in full uniform. What happened with the runners though was quite moving. Many of them stopped on the sidewalk during the run shake Bell’s hand and thank him for his service.
It truly was a special moment and you could tell Bell was quite touched by the runners. Here you have runners running for Tillman, a man that gave up a huge contract with the Cardinals to be an Army Ranger. Bell appreciated that and showed his support. I think it was quite something for those runners to stop and thank him for his service. I second that. Thank you Mr. Bell and thank you Mr. Tillman. You both embodied what it meant to be a true patriot and American hero.