The Ultimate Act of Selflessness

Everyone who knows me, knows that I love football.  While I do not play football, I love to watch high school, college and professional football games.  I also belong to a fantasy football league.  Every year as I watch teams pull off unbelievable come from behind wins and as I watch players push themselves to make fantastic plays, I cannot help but think of the extraordinary actions of former NFL player Pat Tillman.  In June of 2002, approximately eight months after the September 11^th attacks, Tillman walked away from a successful NFL football career and a multi-million dollar contract, to enlist in the Army because he wanted to do something to help the victims of 9/11. He served several tours of duty fighting against terrorism before he was killed in the mountains of Afghanistan on April 22, 2004 at the age of 27.  It was originally reported that Tillman died in the line of enemy fire, but later it was revealed by the Pentagon that his death was a result of friendly fire.  I find Pat Tillman’s story to be inspirational.  In our society where many people are so focused on making sure they have the biggest and the best of everything, it is admirable that a young man who appeared to have “everything” gave it all up so that he could help others. How unfortunate it truly is that he had to lose his life after such a selfless act.  Also unfortunate is the fact that our government tried to cover up how he died.   It is my hope that others will also be inspired by Pat Tillman’s story and that they too will strive to make a difference in the world.  

Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pat_Tillman

“The best things in life aren’t things”  Art Buchwald

 

Blake