Washington Football Team Joins NFL in Celebrating Salute to Service Month partners with GEICO Military and Buffalo Wild Wings to give back to 15 military installations

By Alec LaCorazza handed out more than 1,500 appreciation packs Fort Eustis, Langley Air Force Base and Norfolk that featured gift cards and coupons to Buffalo Naval Base. From Oct. 5 through Nov. 2, the Washington Wild Wings, virus-prevention branded face Washington Football personalities hosted vir- Football Team ventured to 15 military installations masks, and other essentials to lift spirits, boost tual interviews, while the First Ladies of Football throughout Virginia, Maryland and Washington, morale, and spread the new team brand across hosted virtual challenges at each installation, con- D.C., connecting with 1,500 service members installations in the region. necting and engaging with each military member to thank them for their service throughout the The effort extended to Joint Base Andrews, and dependent who stopped at the booth. The T i mes o The Wash ington COVID-19 pandemic. The effort was sponsored Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Fort Lee, United team considered the opportunity a privilege and by GEICO Military and supported by Buffalo States Coast Guard Headquarters, Fort Myer, thanked each installation for the opportunity to Wild Wings, USO of Metropolitan Washington- Marine Corps Base Quantico, Fort Belvoir, stop on base. Additionally, the team wanted to Baltimore and USO Hampton Roads and Central Henderson Hall, Navy Yard, Marine Barracks thank the USO of Metropolitan Washington-Balti- Virginia. Washington, Naval Support Activity Bethesda, more and USO Hampton Roads and Central Vir- In an effort to show its appreciation, the team Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, ginia for allowing these connections to happen. TI S ING SU PPL EME NT T V ER INGTON TI MES ASH INGTON T HE W I A L AD A S P EC

| ecember 3 • 2020 • D ecember Thursday 2 A S P EC I A L AD V ER TI S ING SU PPL EME NT Toingt The Wash THE WASHINGTON TIMES o n T i mes | Thursday • D ecember 3 • 2020

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Washington Salute hosts virtual gaming TI S ING SU PPL EME NT Toingt The Wash exhibition with Wounded Warrior Project

By Logan Campbell warriors who participated in the event. First “I have the physical wounds of war, but I also was Michael Carrasquillo, who is the peer sup- deal with the invisible wounds: the PTSD, the Washington Salute teamed up with Wounded port group leader out of Frederick, Maryland, depression and the isolation, Carrasquillo said. THE WASHINGTON TIMES Warrior Project (WWP) to host a virtual gam- followed by his co-leader, King Smith, who has “Again, Wounded Warrior Project has been a ing exhibition Oct. 27, kicking off the NFL’s helped warriors connect with resources and huge part of my recovery allowing me to be with Salute to Service initiative to honor, empower each other, and John Rego, the warrior leader other warriors and know that I’m not alone and and connect service members, veterans and in Delaware who is a longtime Washington fan. that I’m going through this with so many others. their families. Natalie Wooley, an outreach specialist in ...It’s been vital to my recovery for sure.” o n T i mes Washington Football Team players Kamren Richmond, Virginia, was a big part of the gam- Rego, who served in multiple tours as an air- Curl and Saahdiq Charles competed against ing initiative for WWP. The novel coronavirus borne ranger, was in a building that was hit with the Warriors virtually in four EA Madden forced Wooley and others to brainstorm for eight an artillery round during his final tour, resulting | exhibition matches. months on ways to keep the warriors engaged. in him being buried alive by the building. He was Thursday • D ecember 3 • 2020 Co-host Alec LaCorazza, Washington’s mili- “Gaming is the medium that brings a lot of introduced to WWP after undergoing nearly 40 tary liaison, has been getting creative by com- our warriors together,” Wooley said, “because surgeries, and the organization changed his life ing up with different ways to connect Wash- they utilize it to overcome the PTSD, the anxi- for the better. ington’s coaches and players with servicemen ety, the struggles they go through because it’s “They’ve done amazing things for me,” he and women from the safety and comfort of that brief second in time for an hour that they said. “They’ve kind of helped me reevaluate their homes. can be with other people and take their mind myself as no longer being just an injured vet- “Since Coach Rivera jumped on board in Jan- off of it.” eran, but also help me figure out who the real uary… [he] has pressed me time and time again The warriors were able to share their stories me is. It has had such a positive impact on me to make November special,” LaCorazza said, “and while games were being played. Carrasquillo and my life and has offered me the opportunity this is one few things we can do.” was ambushed and shot five times as he was to help out other people in my area and work Beth Schmidt, the Washington, D.C. alumni helping a fellow infantry man when a bullet with other veterans who are in that process of manager for WWP, introduced the three ricocheted off his gun and took off his finger. transitioning out.” 5 T i mes o The Wash ington TI S ING SU PPL EME NT T V ER INGTON TI MES ASH INGTON T HE W I A L AD A S P EC

| ecember 3 • 2020 • D ecember Thursday 6 A S P EC I A L AD V ER TI S ING SU PPL EME NT Toingt The Wash THE WASHINGTON TIMES o n T i mes | Thursday • D ecember 3 • 2020 Trusted by the best. www.finchturf.com 7 Jason Wright, Doug Williams sit down with Tuskegee Airman in honor of Salute to Service Month T i mes o The Wash ington

By Alec LaCorazza that McGee was not the only “trailblazer” for Washington in 1992 — was excited to partici- people of color on the panel. All three men share pate being the son of a World War II veteran. Washington Salute celebrated Salute to Service one gleaming trait: they have opened doors for Williams’ adversities extend back to growing up Month and the 75th Anniversary of the end of people of color with their professional accom- in southern Louisiana -- about 35 miles from the World War II on Oct. 29 with a virtual Con- plishments, leaving legacies that will extend birth location of the KKK -- where he regularly necting Generations Discussion that featured much longer than they could ever imagine. saw burning crosses on each end of his all-black

TI S ING SU PPL EME NT T 100-year-old Tuskegee Airman Brig. Gen. Charles “We’re here to celebrate three men represent- neighborhood. He emphasized how grateful

V ER McGee, Washington Football Team President ing different generations, different experiences, he was to have seen progress with the orga- Jason Wright and Super Bowl champion and Se- bravery of different breeds in a year that has con- nization and NFL, as well as public perspec- nior Vice President of Player Development Doug sisted of milestones in the fight for racial equality, tive. Bobby Mitchell became the first African INGTON TI MES ASH INGTON Williams. addressing adversity, and progression for African American to play for the franchise in 1962, and The hour-long discussion was hosted by Americans,” Samuels said. “So, today we’re happy about 25 years later, Williams was preparing T HE W I A L AD A S P EC

| Washington personality GeNienne Samuels, to talk about our connections, our adversities, and for Super Bowl XXII with Mitchell, then a team who kicked things off by explaining what con- continued progress.” executive. Super Bowl coverage questioned nected the three panelists. Yes, the event was if Washington had the best team in the NFL set up to celebrate Salute to Service Month and Introductions because its quarterback was black, but now the the 75th Anniversary of the end of World War Jason Wright -- the NFL’s first African league celebrates social justice. It even kicked II. Yes, Williams’ father served in World War American team president — was honored and off the 2020 season with a battle between the II and Wright’s grandfather-in-law served as a privileged to be on a panel with men who have two highest-paid black quarterbacks in Patrick strike navigator in the Korean and Vietnamese paved the way for him as an executive leader. It Mahomes and Deshaun Watson. wars. And yes, they were both in the pres- was difficult for Wright to talk about the adversity Brigade General Charles McGee -- one of ence of one of the greatest American heroes men faced to give him the opportunities he has the last living members of the Tuskegee Airmen in history (both in war and in the civil rights today. — understood the importance of talking about movement). Doug Williams -- the first African Ameri- ecember 3 • 2020 • D ecember Thursday However, Samuels made sure to acknowledge can quarterback to win a Super Bowl with » see Generations | C9 8 A S P EC I A L AD

anyone tell you you can’t do something. Those position to open doors for the people behind V ER

Generations are four good starting points in teaching and them. Then they took the opportunity to men- TI S ING SU PPL EME NT Toingt The Wash From page C8 mentoring our youth.” tor younger generations coming up and talking about their experiences. “Seemingly, it’s the Question & Answer Session recipe for impact, change, and perspective,” the mistreatment of him and his fellow Tuske- Wright and Williams took notes every time Wright said. gee aviators, but his 12-minute opening remarks McGee spoke. Wright was amazed by McGee’s detailed a career and life full of hope, persever- steady and consistent sense of purpose and Concluding Remarks ance, and meaning. With no sincere anger or mission despite how others treated him, so he As the event came to a close, the group was contempt about the treatment he experienced, asked where it came from. That’s when McGee asked to provide 1-2-sentence answers about Brig. Gen. Charles McGee was more interested discussed losing his mother as an infant and how our youth can stand tall and continue to THE WASHINGTON TIMES in discussing the importance of the golden rule how despite not having motherly guidance, he progress today. Williams lives by the mantra -- teaching the youth and the next generation understood that life is a blessing and that those he’s always followed: be resilient. It’s easy to about hope and civility -- and his lifelong man- blessings come in so many different forms. It all throw in the towel, but possibilities will be tra, “the four P’s”: perceive, prepare, perform, comes down to how you react to the blessings endless if our country’s youth refrain from o n T i mes and persevere. With a life dedicated to teach- that come your way. quitting. Wright urged people to understand ing the youth, McGee was proud he and fellow that the “deep love for our country and our airmen were able to disprove the military study Fostering Change Today military and the desire to see our nation evolve | suggesting African Americans were not capable When the group was asked about what into a greater state of justice are not at odds Thursday • D ecember 3 • 2020 of operating airfare and change the perception people can do to continue fostering change with one another. They’re all a part of the about the capabilities of black people. around the country and in their communities. same vision for the American idea.” McGee “Perceive: Understand yourself, know what Williams, who is responsible for helping develop emphasized the importance of being prepared you want, do what you love, and follow your young players, honed in on sharing his experi- and understanding that the steps it takes to dreams. Prepare: Get a good education. Far too ences, telling his own stories and standing tall in get to where you want will never be easy, but often our education system is failing our youth, the face of adversity. they’re accessible if we help our youth reach so it’s all of our responsibility to teach, set Wright, taking everything he had learned them. examples, boost those that need it. Perform: from the discussion, identified two charac- Washington Salute would like to extend a No matter what you decide to do, be the best teristics in McGee and Williams that made warm thank you to Friends of the World War II at whatever you decide to pursue. Freedom them impactful. They both were committed Memorial for allowing us to sit down and talk comes in the form of being the best version of to being the best at what they loved to do, and with McGee. It was a pleasure, and we hope to who you’d like to be. Persevere: Don’t ever let their hard work and commitment put them in host him at a game very soon! 9 Salute to Service Game Gallery vs T i mes o The Wash ington Washington Football Team 11/8/2020 TI S ING SU PPL EME NT T V ER INGTON TI MES ASH INGTON T HE W I A L AD A S P EC

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Salute to Service V ER

Game Gallery TI S ING SU PPL EME NT Toingt The Wash New York Giants vs Washington Football Team 11/8/2020 THE WASHINGTON TIMES o n T i mes | Thursday • D ecember 3 • 2020

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| ecember 3 • 2020 • D ecember Thursday 12 Salute To Service: Ron Rivera and Alex Smith sit down with Walter Reed patients

By Kyle Stackpole said Steve Springer, a registered nurse in the were playing in Washington department. “On average, they tend to be in their that season and King was a Walter Reed patient, Washington Football Team head coach Ron mid-20s. A lot of them were very active prior to so before the game, Rivera invited King to speak Rivera and quarterback Alex Smith virtually injury, and we really focus on getting them back to his players at the team hotel. King, who lost A S P EC I A L AD sat down with patients from the Walter Reed to maximum function and we focus on not what both legs in Afghanistan, was a month removed National Military Medical Center on Nov. 10 as they’re missing...but actually what they can do, from being in a coma. part of the NFL’s Salute to Service Month. and we try to return them to sports, active duty, “During Salute to Service month, we had

Rivera and Smith, both of whom have ties to whatever they really want to continue on with Cedric come [to Carolina] and he banged on the V ER

the military, spoke to service members from the the rest of their life.” [“Keep Pounding”] drum for us,” said Rivera, TI S ING SU PPL EME NT Toingt The Wash Military Advanced Training Center (MATC), Springer said they primarily take care of who has a large framed photo of the moment in Murtha’s Cancer Center and In-Patient Care amputees, and that was almost Smith’s fate after his office. “It really is one of my favorite mo- Unit. The hour-long event, which was hosted suffering a gruesome broken leg and subsequent ments with the Salute to Service -- it really, truly by Washington Football personality and former infection in 2018. His injury was deemed “war- is -- because he’s such a neat man, he really is. cheerleader GeNienne Samuels, included a like enough” that he received clearance from Like I said, we’ve become friends and we text lengthy discussion with Rivera and a Q&A ses- the Secretary of Defense to rehab at a military and visit and talk on the phone and he comes sion with Smith, who will make his first start in center. Over the next two years, Smith traveled and sees us at practice and he’ll speak to the nearly two years Sunday against the Lions. to Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio team. That’s one of the things that I really, truly THE WASHINGTON TIMES Rivera and Smith have had long, successful on three separate occasions for consultation do look forward to.” NFL careers, but their strength and persever- about his healing process. While there, he paid That conversation changed the fortunes of ance through distressful situations allows them his respects to amputees and burn victims at the both King and the Panthers. Now a retired Master to relate to those who have made sacrifices to Center for the Intrepid. Sgt., King has run the Boston Marathon several protect our country. Throughout his remarkable recovery, Smith times and completed numerous half marathons. o n T i mes Rivera, who grew up in a military family, followed the mantra “Just live,” which is about The Panthers, meanwhile, won three straight divi- recently finished treatment for squamous cell embracing everything life brings -- the good, sion titles and appeared in Super Bowl 50. carcinoma, which is a form of skin cancer. Going bad and in between -- and being present in those Rivera is striving to build a similar culture | through 35 proton radiation treatments and three moments. It can be easy to shy away from tough with Washington, and honoring the military will Thursday • D ecember 3 • 2020 chemotherapy cycles was tough, Rivera said, but times, Smith said, but being able to push through be a significant part of doing so. he kept telling himself “I’ve got this” throughout those adversities can lead to miraculous progress. “To me it’s very special, and if there’s any op- the process. That mindset allowed him to take Rivera sees that resiliency in wounded war- portunity for us to recognize our military folks, care of himself while developing a young and riors, which is why he cannot wait to visit them and not just the men and women who serve promising football team. In fact, Rivera only around the Washington Metropolitan Area but the spouses and the dependents because missed two practices and coached every game. once everything goes back to normal. Rivera from my perspective, just knowing what it can Just as Rivera can relate to patients at interacted with a lot of wounded warriors in his mean to a child, knowing that your parent in the Murtha’s Cancer Center, Smith went through a eight-plus seasons in Carolina, including one military, that’s really big,” Rivera said. “I try to similar recovery process as those rehabbing at who was particularly inspiring. make sure that if there’s an opportunity to do the Military Advanced Training Center (MATC). Rivera first learned about then Sgt. First Class something to give back, I most certainly want to “We actually use a Sports Medicine Reha- Cedric King through his military and coach- be there to show our support.” bilitation model for a lot of our injured troops,” ing connections in 2012. It just so happened the 13 bѴb|-u‹ bv1o†m|=ou;uo;vbh;+o†

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By Alec LaCorazza to public service and serving their country. Rivera asked Lynch about his goals after col- Although the virtual event was meant to be lege, and he laid out a wide variety of military Washington Football Team President Jason a surprise for all three cadets, Price had men- related avenues in the medical field, including

Wright, head coach Ron Rivera and SVP of tioned in his introduction that he had already medical school and combat rescue. After hear- V ER

Media and Content Julie Donaldson surprised been told privately he would be taking com- ing about his aspirations, Rivera surprised him TI S ING SU PPL EME NT Toingt The Wash three deserving cadets in Howard University’s mand as the newest Cadet Wing Commander. with the 2020 Commander’s Scholarship for 130th US Air Force ROTC Detachment. In This position puts Price in charge of planning Excellence, which is worth up to $18,000 a year. celebration of the NFL’s Salute to Service Month, and executing training for all 93 cadets in his the executive team worked with ROTC Com- detachment. Howard University’s 130th Detach- Jason Wright Surprises Cadet Nnamdi manders in setting up a virtual meet and greet ment includes students from American Univer- Olebara With United States Air with three exceptional students that have dem- sity, Catholic University, George Washington Force ROTC HBCU Scholarship onstrated ROTC core values and characteristics. University, Georgetown University, Marymount The final participant, Nnamdi Olebara, at- The cadets were invited to the virtual meet- University, Trinity University and the University tends Howard University and prides himself and-greet with Washington executives under of the District of Columbia. as a student-athlete on the Howard University THE WASHINGTON TIMES the impression they would be talking about their Donaldson was happy to congratulate the football team and track & field team. Olebara’s experience in the ROTC program and possibly young man on all of his success. Price was also superior officers describe him as tenacious and identify opportunities for the team to enhance praised by Wright on Price’s determination to willing to outwork his peers for overall excel- the program in coming seasons. What the cadets put himself in uncomfortable situations. lence. Olebara has a 4.0 GPA and balances his o n T i mes didn’t know is that Rivera, Donaldson, and student-athlete responsibilities with working Wright were going to reward them for academic Ron Rivera Rewards Luke Lynch With part-time. His background as an ROTC Air Force excellence and act as a milestone for their edu- Commander’s Scholarship For Excellence student in high school brought him many early | cational and professional careers. Luke Lynch, a sophomore from Ameri- successes and opportunities, and he has aspira- Thursday • D ecember 3 • 2020 can University, is a Public Health major on a tions to become CEO of a Fortune 500 Company. Julie Donaldson Informs Javon premedical track to become a Combat Rescue Wright was excited to inform OIebara that he Price He’s Been Selected To Be Officer in the United States Air Force. Lynch is was a recipient of the United States Air Force Cadet Wing Commander currently serving as an EMT at American Uni- ROTC HBCU Scholarship, which covers full Javon Price is a senior at Georgetown Uni- versity and prides himself on taking everything tuition for the rest of Olebara’s academic career versity studying Foreign Politics with a focus in he learned from the ROTC into the ambulance at any HBCU. Olebara expressed excitement and Security Studies. Holding numerous leadership with him. Lynch chose the ROTC program in relief, telling the group he had originally been roles within the university, Price is remembrance of his time spent as a public ser- accepted to West Point but chose Howard to the Campus Ambassador at Georgetown for vant with his late father at a local soup kitchen participate in athletics with a desire to earn the the Institute of Politics and Public Service. Prior growing up. Aside from leading his detachment scholarship. to joining the ROTC, Price was formerly enlisted in training efforts for Public Health and Safety, The Washington Football Team thanks How- in the Air Force for four years and decided to go he believes his greatest accomplishment was his ard University United States Air Force ROTC back to school. Price is focused on setting an ex- participation in efforts to increase diversity and program for allowing the organization to be a ample for other people of color that are dedicated inclusion within ROTC and the USAF. part of these special moments. 15 T i mes o The Wash ington TI S ING SU PPL EME NT T V ER INGTON TI MES ASH INGTON T HE W I A L AD A S P EC

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