Over 35,000 runners, walkers, volunteers and spectators united at Sun Devil Stadium on Saturday, April 20 to Run, Walk and Honor Pat’s legacy of leadership and service. All 50 states were represented and amongst the crowd were 40 Tillman Military Scholars and their families in special gold Pat’s Run race shirts. People from a few months old to 86 years of age were in attendance to celebrate Pat’s legacy. Thousands of supporters also turned out in full force at over 28 Shadow Runs in cities across the country as well as two Troop Runs in Afghanistan this April. (Photo highlights are now online for your viewing and purchase.)

Over 2,600 kids participated in the .42 mile Kids Run and four of those youngsters were named Tillman. But, none of this would have been possible without the 1,200 volunteers who helped with Race Week and Race Day responsibilities. We’d also like to give a special shout out to the 200 Team Tillman members who raised over $77,000 during Pat’s Run.

On behalf of the Pat Tillman Foundation, the Pat’s Run Race Committee and the community of Tillman Military Scholars that directly benefits from your support of Pat’s Run – THANK YOU for being with us every step of the way!

At the Pat Tillman Foundation we cannot fulfill our mission without the generosity of individuals and sponsors like you – who share Pat’s passion and desire to make a difference. Thank you again for your participation and continued support of Pat’s Run and all of our Tillman Military Scholars nationwide.

Watch for news about the 5th class of Tillman Military Scholars in June! In the meantime, mark your calendar for Veteran’s Day – November 11, 2013 when registration opens for the 10th Annual Pat’s Run!

As an amateur runner, I love races. I save all my race bibs and I write my time on the back of them. I have run 13 races, large and small, and each one has been special to me. Running is the most democratic of all sports; there is virtually no financial barrier for participation, there is little equipment and no special venue is needed. Weekend Warriors race alongside elite runners. Anyone can run, and anyone can watch. There are no ticket fees, no limits on spectators, and the runners race through the public space of a city.

This past weekend, I ran the one race that I have been looking forward to all year: Pat’s Run. I ran Pat’s Run for the first time last year after being selected as a Tillman Military Scholar. For me, this race is special because it has grown from a small run organized by Marie Tillman in Tempe, Arizona to a massive undertaking by the entire city of Phoenix. Pat’s Run embodies so many things: community, sacrifice, 10 years of war, loss, heroism, veterans, scholars, and courage.

Courage could be defined today as not knowing what evil lies on the other side of a decision, yet deciding to go anyway. When the Twin Towers fell on 9/11, Pat Tillman made a courageous decision. He placed one foot in front of the other and did not look back. He bravely left behind an exciting football career in Arizona, that was both comfortable and profitable, for a very different life as a U.S. Army Ranger. In his own words: “It doesn’t do me any good to be proud. It’s better to just force myself to be naïve about things, because otherwise I’ll start being happy with myself, and then I’ll stand still, and then I’m old news.” When Pat made his courageous decision, he became part of the 1 percent of Americans who serve our nation in uniform. Pat ultimately lost his life in the mountains of Afghanistan, placing him among the honored few who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation’s freedom.

On April 15th, when the finish line of the 2013 Boston Marathon became a war zone, our nation was instantly propelled back to the emotions of 9/11. But this time there was one notable difference. After a decade of war, there are now thousands of veterans who live in our local communities. They live among us, they are organized, they are motivated to serve, they are young and smart, and they have not allowed themselves to be isolated.

On April 15th, several of these men and women – the one percent-  where on the ground at the Boston Marathon. Among them was First Lieutenant Steve Fiola, a Massachusetts native. Fiola had participated in the Boston Marathon three times, each time rucking it. This year, he organized a team of soldiers to ruck the Marathon as Team “Tough Ruck.” Fiola’s team had just finished the 26.2 mile Ruck, and they were sitting exhausted near the finish line when they heard the blast on Boylston Street. These one percenters, like Pat Tillman, understand courage. Without knowing what evil stood ahead, they quickly jumped into action. They did not run to safety, they ran toward danger and they rendered aid to the fallen. As the Officer in Charge, Fiola immediately organized his exhausted team and jumped into action. He and his fellow soldier, 1SG Bernard Madore ripped down a fence that was separating the wounded from medical personnel and transport. Madore assisted children and helped with tourniquets, while Fiola rendered aid to a man on fire, with a badly burned face.

After tragic events like Boston, often all people can do is just do – placing one foot in front of the other, doing, creating, participating, working and running. This action, big or small, is important. It begins the exponential cycle of others acting and doing in service to others. In the end, simply doing creates real energy, real momentum, real organizations, and real missions of help that are changing lives. And in some cases, saving them.

Marie Tillman, Pat Tillman’s widow, is also a doer. When faced with the unspeakable loss of her husband, she also bravely left comfort behind and journeyed to a place unknown to her. Marie could have mourned the death of her husband privately and simply moved on with her life, leaving the Army part of her life behind. What she did instead placed her in the category of one percenters. She placed one foot in front of the other, slowly doing, creating one small project at a time, refusing to let herself become isolated. All this doing has resulted in what is now a solid and reputable mission that bears the name of her late husband. The Pat Tillman Foundation, started by Marie, Pat’s family and friends, is the result of a lot of people taking action and it has brought about tangible opportunities like Pat’s Run to give back to and support Tillman Military Scholars on their next journey after service. These two very real things serve a great need in our nation; they are not abstract, they are measurable energy, and they change our reality. Pat’s Run is the result of doing. After the evil in Boston, this weekend warrior and veteran could not wait to get to doing in Tempe – racing and supporting my fellow scholars who are carrying forward such an incredible legacy of leadership and service to country.

Shelly Burgoyne, a former Army officer who served two tours in Iraq, just completed her Master’s in Public Policy as a Tillman Military Scholar at the University of Maryland. She resides in San Antonio where she is currently awaiting assignment for a U.S. Embassy abroad.

“The Pat Tillman Foundation is closely monitoring the tragic events that occurred today at the Boston Marathon. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families in the wake of this horrific incident. As we move forward for the 9th Annual Pat’s Run, the Tillman Foundation is working closely with the City of Tempe and Tempe Police, Arizona State University, Arizona State University Police Department and additional security to ensure the safety of all our runners and supporters on the ground this weekend. Increased security measures are being put into place as we move forward with the race.”

If you are member of the media seeking comment, please contact Michelle McCarthy at mmccarthy@pattillmanfoundation.org or (201) 675-1063.

Stop by Rula Bula in Tempe beginning March 8 at 4 p.m. to purchase a 2013 Pints for Pat souvenir glass, the fifth glass in the series.  This year, 1,442 limited-edition Guinness pint glasses will be sold exclusively at Rula Bula.  Each glass is etched with the number 42 and a word that celebrates Pat’s legacy. The word for 2013 will be revealed at this event. Each glass costs $10 and 100% of the proceeds will support the Tillman Military Scholars program.  Please note, glasses are only available at Rula Bula on a first-come, first-served basis.

Rula Bula is located at 401 S. Mill Avenue in Tempe.

Bright and early, the Tillman Class of 2012 scurried over to Longfellow Elementary Schooll in Mesa for the awaited Basketball Beyond Barriers Event. BBB was a success! Approximately 90 students attended the camp and they were more excited than ever. The Tillman Scholars arrived promptly at 7:30 am to begin the set up. Basketball camp was to be held from 9 am to 4 pm with a huge lunch break at noon. The camp was divided into two sessions, K-3rd grade in the morning and 4th –6th grade in the afternoon. One by one, a mix of rowdy and excited students presented themselves. Although, basketball was the main focus, the Scholars tried to incorporate a life lesson throughout the day. Respect and bullying in schools was the core and the main theme of the event. For the primary levels, the children’s book, Stand Tall Molly Lou Melon was read to the youngsters as this book explored the uniqueness of a child. In the afternoon, the older students were involved in large group discussions and made, “Who I am” posters. At the end of the day, parents and students appreciated the effort of the team.  A very special thank you to Longfellow’s Principal Mr. Christensen, as he was a valuable asset to the event. We could not have done it without him!

2012 Tillman Scholars-ASU: (front row) Dorian Sanchez, Scott Bohmke, Monica Burba, Betsy Donahue; (back row) Chip Sarafin, Mark Sackley, Allie Oaks, Jenna Smith, Alex Zabaski, Connor Udasco and Gopi Karunamoorthy.

Tostitos Homecoming Party Bowl Video

TMS Rob Anders

Newtown is a marvelous place, a charming little New England town nestled among the rolling hills of western Connecticut. The center of the town boasts a 100-foot-tall flagpole in the middle of Main Street. At its top, the American flag waves high above the churches there, the General Store, the Old Inn, Proud Mary’s Tavern and the Edmond Town Hall, which shows $2 movies on Saturday nights. Just down the road is the town library, the Newtown Bee printing press and everyone’s favorite little ice cream parlor. Among the farms and tucked-away neighborhoods, the sprawling trees are old, stately and magnificent in autumn. The annual Labor Day Parade brings out the entire town in red, white and blue and everyone marches from the Veteran’s War Memorial down past the giant flagpole to the Ram Pasture, ending at the Middle School.

The parade is the only thing that ends at a school in Newtown; everything else begins there. The center of the community has forever been Newtown’s children. The community pours its heart and soul into its young people. The schools are excellent and the town is replete with athletic fields, playgrounds and opportunities to explore, learn and grow. The town thrives only because its children thrive, and they do so because it’s a place of strong values, virtue, faith and tolerance.

Newtown represents all that is good about America, stretching back to the Revolutionary War when Rochambeau’s troops camped there as they marched with General George Washington en route to Yorktown in 1781. Since then, it has become the home of Olympic athletes, Eagle Scouts, state champions (NHS Girls Soccer & U11 Little League in 2012), artists, businessmen, musicians, volunteers and public servants all who give back. It’s a place where you’re bound to bump into a friend at the grocery store, or where the barber will cheer your name when you walk in, even if it’s been 10 years since your last haircut there. It’s even the birthplace of Scrabble, where the first game of words with friends was played in 1948.

Newtown is America the way Norman Rockwell painted it. Not everyone is from Newtown, but there’s a little part of Newtown in every part of this country. The quilted community that Newtown has stitched so tight and with such great devotion has been desecrated in a way that tears at the very fabric of America.

Please consider making a donation (https://newtown.uwwesternct.org/), however small, to those most profoundly affected.

On Friday, October 26, 2012, 15 Tillman Military Scholars (TMS) converged in my hometown of Flint, Michigan to build group unity, network and perform community service. Flint is not the ideal community you think of when people discuss regional gatherings of any kind. It has received a gauntlet of negative media because of its violent crime, depressed economy, high unemployment rate and an even higher rate of poverty. However, Flint is slowly on the rebound and I was happy to be able to share its revitalization with my fellow TMS. We took them to one new local hangout in the redeveloped downtown area and spent some time on campus at the University of Michigan-Flint. If Flint were the “city on a hill”, the University of Michigan-Flint would definitely be the shining jewel at the hilltop. UM-Flint has experienced significant growth during and what many called have called ‘the hardest economic times Flint has ever had to endure’.  Chancellor Ruth Person and the University of Michigan-Flint are dedicated to providing the very best support to student Veterans.

Tillman Military Scholars met with UM-Flint Chancellor Ruth Person at last month's Regional Gathering on the campus.

On Saturday, we performed community service at Carriage Town Ministries (CTM), a local community service agency that has been providing free food, shelter and clothing to individuals and families in need since 1950. Words can’t express the level gratitude I have for my fellow TMS who took time out of their busy lives to come to my city and serve my community members who need it most. On the surface it would appear that the group of TMS had no solid connection to those they were helping; only a couple of us had historical ties to the Flint community. Yet as I sat in the van as we pulled away from the parking lot of CTM, it struck me that this service opportunity was about more than physical community connections.

Tillman Military Scholars performed a community service project at Carriage Town Ministries in Flint, MI.

It was about strengthening the human spirit of a community who would walk into CTM the next day for services. The actions of the TMS were an honest reflection of their integrity and selflessness. It spoke volumes of the impact that military servicemembers stand to make beyond their military service requirements. It is at THAT moment, riding away in that van, that I felt we collectively embodied the legacy of Pat Tillman and I was most proud to be a Tillman Military Scholar and a part of this unique community.

Many servicemembers who served in Iraq are eager to engage in building a positive partnership with the people of that country.

Last week at Phillips Academy,  the U.S. Cultural Affairs Office in Baghdad collaborated with Phillips to celebrate “Non Sibi Day” on October 6. “Non Sibi” – meaning “Not for Oneself” – is the school’s motto. Non Sibi Day is a day of global service at Phillips Academy, one of the top college-preparatory schools in the United States located in Andover, Massachusetts. Phillips Academy alumni, current students and parents representing the school’s diverse community gathered to support Baghdadi school kids.

The Harvard Club of Andover and Parents of Students at Phillips Academy (PSPA) teamed up to collect and donate school backpacks and other supplies to school kids in Baghdad. It was great to see parents and students writing letters to Iraqi kids they have never met!

Volunteers at Phillips Academy collected backpacks to donate to school children in Baghdad, Iraq.

A couple of veterans from the Iraq War were present, and the feedback from those who participated in the project was very positive. The past decade has formed a strong shared history between the U.S. and Iraq. Community and cross-cultural projects that encourage Iraqis and Americans to interact and work with each other can positively impact the future of two nation’s relationship.

Note: The Pat Tillman Foundation is a non-political, non-partisan organization. Recently, through our partnership with Got Your 6, several Tillman Military Scholars had the opportunity to attend both the Republican and Democratic National Conventions.

Edward Woodward at the Republican National Convention in Tampa, FL

Through Got Your 6, I was fortunate to attend portions of the RNC along with fellow Tillman Military Scholars Dave Warden, Josiah Hill and Grey Leonard, along with our wives/girlfriends. We attended the Got Your 6 event Wednesday night, a concert that featured Sara Evans and a brief speech by Meghan McCain, daughter of Arizona Senator John McCain. Josiah and I were able to meet Senator McCain and get a photo. Sara Evans was outstanding and the event was a tribute to the success Got Your 6 is having in creating opportunities for veterans and civilians to join together to reinvigorate our community.

Arizona Senator John McCain and TMS Ed Woodward in Tampa.

We had a great experience in Tampa, having not had an opportunity to get together since the Pat Tillman Leadership Summit. It was refreshing to see everyone in the tremendous setting the Got Your 6 event provided. The entire experience reinforces the overwhelming feeling of gratitude I feel to be a part of the Tillman Community. These events provide tangible results to all the hard work that is being done to help and support our nation’s veterans as they come back and reintegrate into society.

TMS Josiah Hill with Brianna Venable at the RNC Got Your 6 event in Tampa.

John Larch at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, NC

My wife and I attended various Democratic National Convention activities in North Carolina.

On Monday, we visited Carolina Fest downtown, listened to live music and enjoyed the many vendors. My wife had the good fortune to meet Georgia Congressman John Lewis, a well-known civil rights leader.

Mary Ann Larch with Congressman Lewis at the DNC in Charlotte.

On Wednesday, we attended the Veterans & Military Families Council Caucus. Speakers included Hawaii Senator Daniel Inouye, a Medal of Honor recipient, and Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden. By coincidence, Chris Marvin, Managing Director of Got Your 6, happened to sit next to me during this caucus meeting. Talk about a small world! While I was talking with Chris, my wife slipped away and managed to cross paths with Dr. Biden!

TMS John Larch and his wife Mary Ann at the DNC Got Your 6 event in Charlotte.

That evening, we attended the Flo Rida concert, watching from VIP seating a great show and upbeat crowd. The entire experience was eye opening and enlightening.