A good opportunity to honor a hero

[chazoe60]

With the Arizona Cardinals reaching the SuperBowl, I think this is a good time to honor the memory of a fallen hero.

Pat Tillman gave up a life of money, luxury, and fame to fight for something he believed in. In my lifetime Pat Tillman is arguably the greatest hero to come from the world of sports. Many men left their careers to go fight in many different wars, and many of those men never came home. So, in honoring Pat Tillman lets also honor all of these Heroes. Here is a link to the Pat Tillman foundation http://www.pattillmanfoundation.org/ take some time to browse this site, and take some time to honor the real heroes of this world.:salute!:

[chazoe60]

Bump.............

[KWHIT97]

:salute!::salute!::salute!:

Thank you Pat!!!

I would love to see your team bring home a title in your honor!!!

[Senses Fail]

Like Big Ben said, this win is for the fans & the Troops. Or something to that sort! :salute!:

[DenveRelentless]

What about all of the other fallen troops, and the ones who only stumbled (like loosing limbs)? How do we honor them? I am all for honoing Tillman, but lets not lose sight of everyone else's sacrifices...

[japfaff]

Yeah Pat Tillman is an American Hero, there is no doubting that. But as a vet of both Iraq, and Afghanistan I get a little tired of everyone harping about Tillman... There are thousands of Mothers, Fathers, Sons, and Daughters that did as he did... Went off to war for their country, and never returned. Yet a lot of times people like to focus on Tillman, who I am sorry to say gave no more than any other serviceman who will never get a chance to see thier children grow up. I am all for honoring a hero, but lets not forget all the young men and women that are from our hometowns that also went off to war, and never returned. I can only speak for myself, but I am willing to bet that a lot of vets share my sentiments... My hero's arent the Pat Tillmans.. The men that I laughed, cried, fought and bled with are my hero's.... You want to honor Pat Tillman.. Then honor him the way that he would want to be honored.... Thank a vet, any vet.

"Some gave all.... All gave some"

[chazoe60]

DenveRelentless and JapJaff, first let me say thank you for your service. However, I think you misconstrued my OP. I specifically said in my OP to honor all of these heroes not just Tillman. My thread was meant as an homage not just to Tillman but to all the men and women of the armed forces, I am sorry if I did not make that clear.

Again, thank you all who have served this country with far more courage than I posess.

[japfaff]

DenveRelentless and JapJaff, first let me say thank you for your service. However, I think you misconstrued my OP. I specifically said in my OP to honor all of these heroes not just Tillman. My thread was meant as an homage not just to Tillman but to all the men and women of the armed forces, I am sorry if I did not make that clear.

Again, thank you all who have served this country with far more courage than I posess.

No worries....

[pitnlala]

DenveRelentless and JapJaff, first let me say thank you for your service. However, I think you misconstrued my OP. I specifically said in my OP to honor all of these heroes not just Tillman. My thread was meant as an homage not just to Tillman but to all the men and women of the armed forces, I am sorry if I did not make that clear.

Again, thank you all who have served this country with far more courage than I posess.

I think Pat was so insprioational for many, b/c he was a recognizable face and name. We lionize athletes in this country, and they often seem so detached from the "real world". Many live in a different world than you and I, so to see one with such conviction, voluntarily going where no athlete in generations had done- the front lines of a war, was amazing.

I remember being numb when I found out that Pat had died, and to be honest, it really made me look at my life and think about what I had really ever sacrificed or done to make my country better. Although I thank every member of our military for their service, I am grateful that Pat's sacrifice put a name and face to the sacrifice that many in our country have made, and are still making. This world was a better place with Pat in it. I hope his family has found peace, and will allow the NFL and its fans to honor him at the SB.

[nbaballer913]

there is no way we can honor people and praise like him enough but in a simple way...

:salute!: PAT TILLMAN :salute!:

[Cugel]

Personally, I Think Pat Teilman Was Great!

But NOT for the reasons that most conservatives do.

Had Pat lived to return from Afghanistan he was set to become an anti-war activist. He had already arranged to meet with noted radical Noam Chomsky.

I think he was a true hero who was prepared to stand up for what's right, even though this meant standing AGAINST President Bush and the military. And he may well have been murdered by his own special forces because of his beliefs.

Religious and political beliefs

According to speakers at his funeral, he was very well-read, having read a number of religious texts including the Bible, Koran and Book of Mormon as well as transcendentalist authors such as Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau; his younger brother Rich stated that he "is not with God... He was not religious."[4] Another article quotes him as having told then-general manager of the Seattle Seahawks Bob Ferguson in December 2003 that "you know I'm not religious".[5]

The September 25, 2005, edition of the San Francisco Chronicle newspaper reported that Tillman held views which were critical of the Iraq war and did not support President Bush's re-election. According to Tillman's mother, a friend of Tillman had arranged a meeting with Noam Chomsky, to take place after his return from Afghanistan. Chomsky has confirmed this.[6] The article also reported that Tillman urged a soldier in his platoon to vote for John Kerry in the 2004 U.S. Presidential election.[7]

[edit] Death

Tillman was subsequently redeployed to Afghanistan. On April 22, 2004, he was killed in a friendly fire incident while on patrol. The specific details of his death and its aftermath are currently being investigated by the US Congress.

The Army initially claimed that Tillman and his unit were attacked in an apparent ambush on a road outside of the village of Sperah about 25 miles (40 km) southwest of Khost, near the Pakistan border. An Afghan militia soldier was killed, and two other Rangers were injured as well.

The Army Special Operations Command initially claimed that there was an exchange with hostile forces. After a lengthy investigation conducted by Brigadier General Jones, the U.S. Department of Defense concluded that both the Afghan militia soldier's and Pat Tillman's deaths were due to friendly fire aggravated by the intensity of the firefight.

A more thorough investigation concluded that no hostile forces were involved in the firefight and that two allied groups fired on each other in confusion after a nearby explosive device was detonated.

On July 26, 2007, AP received official documents stating that the investigating doctors performing the autopsy suspected that Tillman was murdered.[8] The doctors — whose names were blacked out — said it appeared as though he was shot by a United States Navy Mark 12 Mod X Special Purpose Rifle from approximately 10 yards (9 m) away. The Mark 12 chambers a 5.56 mm round (versus the traditional 7.62 mm or larger sniper round). It is likely that a Ranger sniper fired the three single shots that formed the shot group on Tillman’s forehead.

The Army immediately LIED to the family and launched a huge cover-up of the circumstances around his death, trying to turn him into a caricature to be used to rally support for Bush's wars and a recruiting poster.

The real Pat Tillman was a far greater and more admirable figure than the media caricature.

[pitnlala]

But NOT for the reasons that most conservatives do.

Had Pat lived to return from Afghanistan he was set to become an anti-war activist. He had already arranged to meet with noted radical Noam Chomsky.

I think he was a true hero who was prepared to stand up for what's right, even though this meant standing AGAINST President Bush and the military. And he may well have been murdered by his own special forces because of his beliefs.



The Army immediately LIED to the family and launched a huge cover-up of the circumstances around his death, trying to turn him into a caricature to be used to rally support for Bush's wars and a recruiting poster.

The real Pat Tillman was a far greater and more admirable figure than the media caricature.

I think this is true of most true heroic people.

Your conspiracy is intresting (although farfetched at best), but irrelevant to what we are discussing. The way he died, and the military's actions in the aftermath have not one thing to do with the sacrifice he made and the reason he made them.

I dont give a crap what the religion, political affiliation, race, etc you are. If you are serving your country and you have a conviction to serve and protect, you have my utmost respect. After 9/11 I wanted to do something like Pat, my brother in law, and many others did. But I didnt. I didnt have the balls to put my job security, and well-being in jeopardy to protect my family and country.

I know that I (and many others I know) looked at most people (pre 9/11) that joined the miltary to either be knuckleheads with few career options, or no direction in life. I was obviously wrong, and am ashamed it took me seeing those who enlisted after 9/11 and gave up their own security and well being to realize it.

The fact he died is tragic. How he died doesnt change the lesson I learned from his decision. It may sound dumb, corny, or whatever...but Pat Tillman helped make me a better husband, father, and American.

[jeremy_koenig]

Thank you to all of our troops and vets. I am doing my part and in 2 weeks I leave for basic training. I hope that everybody remembers what the soldiers do for them.

[Mile High Mouth]

With the Arizona Cardinals reaching the SuperBowl, I think this is a good time to honor the memory of a fallen hero.

Pat Tillman gave up a life of money, luxury, and fame to fight for something he believed in. In my lifetime Pat Tillman is arguably the greatest hero to come from the world of sports. Many men left their careers to go fight in many different wars, and many of those men never came home. So, in honoring Pat Tillman lets also honor all of these Heroes. Here is a link to the Pat Tillman foundation http://www.pattillmanfoundation.org/ take some time to browse this site, and take some time to honor the real heroes of this world.:salute!:

I personally Think we should spend just as much time praising and honoring the real heroes that objected to war, the people that spoke out against the constant tyranny of oil based ideals. I am not knocking the people who have served (including myself from 2000 - 2002) but ...

The real heroes here are those people who try to keep our friends from even having to be there in the first place ...

The people who lobby legislation to PREVENT over-seas offensives ....

The people who think it is asinine to pay taxes just to have our friends sent to slaughter ....

I applaud your commitment to making sure our vet's are recognized, but let's also mention those that try to keep the vet's stateside and out of silly harm's way ....

[chazoe60]

Thank you to all of our troops and vets. I am doing my part and in 2 weeks I leave for basic training. I hope that everybody remembers what the soldiers do for them.

Thank you, good luck, and God bless you

I realize that all of your resources where email and that sort os thing is concerned will be spent toward keeping in touch withfamily and friends, as it should be. However, if you do find it possible I think the MB would love to hear an update.

Again, thanks for the commitment you have made. You are far more courageous than me.