Operation Salute Our Troops
As part of the Redskins' season-long military appreciation program Operation Salute our Troops, the Redskins in association with their military appreciation partner Oshkosh Defense are proud to announce the opening of the Pro Football and the American Spirit exhibit on the Club Level of FedExField.
The exhibit, on loan from the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, tells the story of professional football players and personnel who served our nation in the armed forces from WWII to Desert Storm and the conflict in Afghanistan.
Exhibit artifacts include Hall of Famer Art Donovan’s Marine uniform; the career medals of General Ernest Cheatham, pro football’s highest ranking former player; the Cleveland Browns sideline jacket of Don Steinbrunner one of only two NFL players to perish during the Vietnam War, and Pat Tillman’s Army Ranger uniform.
As part of the exhibit, Oshkosh Defense has installed a giant signature board within the exhibit. For every signature collected Oshkosh Defense will donate $2 to TAPS. TAPS is the 24/7 tragedy assistance resource for ANYONE who has suffered the loss of a military loved one, regardless of the relationship to the deceased or the circumstance of the death.
TAPS has established itself as the front line resource to the families and loved ones of our military men and women. TAPS provides comfort and care through comprehensive services and programs including peer based emotional support, case work assistance, crisis intervention, and grief and trauma resources. To learn more about TAPS, visit www.taps.org.
To learn more about Oshkosh Defense and their unwavering support of the men and women of the armed services go to www.oshkoshdefense.com.
DRS Technologies, Inc., and the Washington Redskins have partnered this year to promote the DRS Guardian Scholarship Fund, which provides college scholarships to the nearly 1,000 children of National Guardsmen killed during service to their country since Sept. 11, 2001.
Eligible high school juniors and seniors can apply for up to $25,000 paid over a four-year college education. The first four scholarships were awarded last August.
The fund was established in 2011 by DRS Technologies Charitable Foundation, Inc. and the National Guard Educational Foundation (NGEF), both 501(c)3 charitable organizations. For more information about the fund, please visit www.drsfoundation.net/guard.
The Washington Redskins will supporta fundraising effort at FedEx Field to benefit the DRS Guardian Scholarship Fund at FedExField on Dec. 4, 2011 when the Washington Redskins play the New York Jets. All proceeds from the fundraising effort will benefit the DRS Guardian Scholarship Fund.
About DRS Technologies Charitable Foundation, Inc.:
DRS Technologies believes that a successful corporate culture must include being a good corporate citizen. The DRS Technologies Charitable Foundation, a 501(c)3 organization, provides grants to causes that reflect our company’s commitment to our United States Armed Forces, the health and education of children, and community and civic causes that improve the quality of life in local DRS communities.
The Washington Redskins, as part of a year-long military appreciation program Operation Salute Our Troops (OSOT), would like to take this opportunity to recognize our lead partner BAE Systems and to thank all of our partners.
Throughout the season, the Redskins will provide the latest news on Operation Salute Our Troops and how team partners salute the men and women of the Armed Services.
As part of the Redskins season long military appreciation program Operation Salute our Troops, the Redskins and their lead partner BAE Systems welcomed the USO Metro to FedExField on Sunday, Sept. 20, 2009, to present them with Redskins Leadership Award for outstanding service.
The USO Metro's mission is to enhance the quality of life for military personnel serving the military in Northern Virginia, the District of Columbia and Maryland. With over 3,000 dedicated volunteers, the USO Metro makes sure that our troops know that America supports them.
Representing the USO Metro will be Cheryl Hall, Chief Operating Officer and presenting the award from BAE Systems was Mike Heffron, President of the BAE Systems Electronics, Intelligence & Support operating group. As one of the world's premier defense, security and aerospace companies, BAE Systems has a long and proud history of supporting and partnering with the men and women of the United States military and is proud to partner with the Washington Redskins on Operation Salute our Troops.
The Washington Redskins, our fans and our Operation Salute Our Troops partner BAE Systems salute all the men and women of the USO Metro, as well as all of our troops around the globe serving in harms way to defend our freedom.
To learn more about the USO Metro, please go to www.usometrodc.org. For more information on BAE Systems, go to www.baesystems.com.
Enlist Your Redskins Tickets! When you can't make it to the game, your tickets still can. Donate your tickets for use by our troops and their families. Click here for more information.
Fan Watches Super Bowl XLIII in Style
Michael Kacer is an unabashed Pittsburgh Steelers fan -- as evidenced by the Steelers tattoo on the prosthesis that serves as his left arm.
He is grateful to the Washington Redskins, the Military Order of the Purple Heart and Walter Reed Hospital for helping his dream come true.
Kacer, 27, was a staff sergeant in the 28th infantry division of the Pennsylvania National Guard. He was injured more than a year ago during a rocket attack in Afghanistan and lost his arm that had the Steelers tattoo.
When he was fitted for the prosthetic arm, of course he ordered that a new Steelers tattoo be placed on it.
As a recipient of the Purple Heart, Kacer was a guest of the Redskins, along with William Hisghman of Winchester, Va., at Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa.
"Me, a die-hard Steelers fan, at the big game," Kacer told USA Today. "I can't believe it."
He celebrated in style as Pittsburgh won the Super Bowl over the Arizona Cardinals 27-23.
As part of Super Bowl week, Kacer went on a cruise with former Redskins quarterback Joe Theismann and some Redskins Cheerleaders. He attended a benefit with 3 Doors Down and Snoop Dog, partied in Ybor City and went to Busch Gardens.
Then he watched the game with Redskins team officials.
"It's like a dream come true," he said. "I know that's a cliché, but that's exactly what it is."
Halftime Ceremony
On Nov. 3, 2008, the Military Order of the Purple Heart Service Foundation, together with The Washington Redskins, honored two heroic servicemen at the halftime ceremonies during the Veteran's Day game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
This ceremony proudly honored Staff Sergeant Calvin Linnette from Suffolk, Virginia, wounded with First Armored, 2nd Brigade, 2/6 Infantry Division C Company in Bagdad, Iraq and Sergeant First Class Sene Polu from Tafuna, American Samoa wounded with 4th Brigade, Second ID Fort Lewis, Washington Stryker Brigade in Baku bah, Iraq.
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, The Honorable James B. Peake, R. Louis Spinelli, 1st Vice President of the Military Order of the Purple Heart Service Foundation, Gregory Bresser, Acting Executive Director of the Military Order of the Purple Heart Service Foundation, and Ransom Jordan of the Military Order of the Purple Heart of the USA presented each serviceman with life membership plaques as Patriots of the Military Order of the Purple Heart.
Purple Heart works nationally to support all of America's combat wounded veterans and their widows and orphans. Patriots of this fraternal Order and their families are afforded claims service, scholarships and job training. To learn more about the Military Order of the Purple Heart Service Foundation go to www.purpleheartfoundation.org.
Time Out for Veteran's Health at FedExField
As part of their ongoing participation with the Redskins, the Military Order of the Purple Heart Service Foundation teamed up with the Redskins Health and Wellness program.
The Purple Heart hosted a unique screening and education event in the Redskins team locker room at FedExField to encourage military veterans to be proactive about their health.
Veterans have the opportunity to receive a comprehensive series of free health screenings including: cholesterol, diabetes, osteoporosis, blood pressure, prostate exams, body fat, grip strength, and patient health educational materials on various health conditions.
