The Tucson Edition of Pat’s Run is April 8th beginning at 8 am. This event held nationally in several cities including outside of Arizona.
Below is an editorial from the Post-Courier in South Carolina.
Please sign up to take part in this very worthwhile cause.
(Charleston, SC) M. Joel Jackson, like most other Americans, was moved by the story of the infectiously enthusiastic Arizona Cardinals tackler who bolted the NFL for military service soon after the September terrorist attacks.
But it wasn’t enough to weep upon hearing Pat Tillman was killed by “friendly re” during an Afghanistan canyon ambush on April , . Jackson emailed Tillman’s brother-in-law, Alex Garwood.
Tillman’s mother phoned Jackson a few days later.
Mary Tillman thanked Jackson for his condolences and his stint in the Marines.
”You served, too,” she said.
Jackson swallowed past the knot in his throat.
“That’s true,” he said. “But I didn’t walk away from millions of dollars and playing a sport everyone dreams of playing. And you know what? I might not have done that. Pat understood what America means. To live life without being a slave to nancial inuence, a lot of people want to be like that.”
That’s what keeps people coming back to Pat Tillman, those who saw his story unfold and younger folks introduced via the NFL Network’s excellent “A Football Life” production.
The ongoing impact of one of the most inuential -year-olds in recent American history includes the terrically conceived Pat Tillman Honor Run. The .-mile idea beneting the Pat Tillman Foundation, a play on Tillman’s jersey No. , is based on Pat’s Run in Tempe, Ariz., where Tillman played at Arizona State.
Athlete, Scholar, Patriot
It’s a low-impact stroll or a competitive race.
It’s a heavy history lesson.
Or just a fun morning outing.
Friends and strangers.
Kids and grown-ups.
It’s denitively Tillman, a deep-thinking, scholar-athlete, patriot, husband, son and brother with a love for life.
Jackson, a -year-old software sales representative, started the Lowcountry version of the Pat Tillman Honor Run two years ago with people on the street outside his Daniel Island home.
There were over runners last year at MUSC Health Stadium. Jackson expects on Saturday.
Snippets of Tillman’s Army Ranger sacrice commanded the attention of the runners gathered last April at MUSC Health Stadium. They watched a -second video on the scoreboard: the thoughtful wild-haired college star, the relentless NFL veteran, Sept. , national news of his decision to join the Army, a tour in Iraq, tragedy in Afghanistan, the funeral.
Jackson got the reaction he was hoping for.
In a name, Tillman
“I had parents come up and say, ‘That’s the coolest thing my kids have watched in a long time,’” Jackson said. “A lot of younger people just know Pat was the football player who got killed by friendly re. But we also try to make sure they walk away knowing a little more about who Pat Tillman was.”
Soon after Jackson’s interaction with Tillman’s mom and brother-in-law years ago, he connected with the Arizona State Alumni Association and the Pat Tillman Foundation.
“I decided I was going to do whatever I could to dedicate a portion of my life to make sure that guy’s message keeps being heard to younger generations,” Jackson said.
There is the .-mile run on Daniel Island one day a year, and another reminder days a year.
Jackson’s eight-year-old son is Chase Tillman Jackson.
Article from Gene Sapako – Post and Courier South Carolina from 02/23/23
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