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Remembering a Soldier: Pat Tillman
Tillman shrine continues to grow at stadium By Bryon Wells, TribuneA military Kevlar helmet. Letters and cards to the surviving family. Police department patches. National Defense and Purple Heart medals. Football trading cards.
Those are just some of the many personal items left by scores of people from across Arizona who have made a pilgrimage to an ever-growing shrine honoring fallen Army Ranger Pat Tillman near Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe. The trend has shown no sign of slowing in the week since Tillman was killed April 22 in Afghanistan.
"It's been nonstop," said Mark Brand, an Arizona State University athletics spokesman. "It's just been incredible. And it's still going."
From a window at the stadium's Carson Student-Athlete Center, Brand has been able to steady flow of well-wishers who have visited the memorial, which has mushroomed beyond expectation outside the stadium's south entrance since Tillman's death.
Brand said ASU officials may set up a tent to cover the sprawling shrine from the elements. There is no word yet on a public memorial service at ASU, though one is expected. Tillman was a star football player for ASU and the Arizona Cardinals who walked away from his lucrative pro career to join the Army after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Cases with military ribbons were placed at the site by anonymous veterans in solidarity with their fallen comrade. Hats embroidered with "Korea Veteran," "Vietnam, 1966-1973" and even an encased placard with World War II medals and ribbons show that Tillman's death has touched several generations of combat veterans.
"That floored me," Brand said upon seeing the mementos.
Tillman's death also brought the war home for ASU broadcast journalism junior Steve Hershey, 21. Hershey said he passes the memorial every day on the way to campus. "I think we take it for granted that there are people my age overseas fighting. Someone like this, that puts a face on it," he said.
A public memorial service in Tillman's hometown of San Jose, Calif., has been planned for the week of May 2, although his family has not yet announced specific date. Tillman has been posthumously promoted to the rank of corporal and has been awarded the Purple Heart and Meritorious Service Medal, said Kevin Walston an Army Special Operations Command spokesman.
Gene Smith, ASU athletics director, released a statement saying an announcement is planned early next week regarding a local memorial service. Smith also thanked the public for support during "a very difficult time."
"We understand the need for our community to pay the proper respects to Pat while also giving the family proper time to grieve," Smith said.
Tillman shunned the spotlight after his decision to leave football. One anonymous well-wisher noted the irony: "Even though it seems that Pat wanted to be an average guy, he'll go down in history as a man that was bigger than life."Contact Bryon Wells by email, or phone (480) 898-6536ADVERTISERS...Click for lunch coupons of the week VISIT OUR AFFILIATES : | Arizona Interactive Media Group | Ahwatukee Foothills News | Daily News Sun | Get Out | Yuma Sun | Freedom Communications, Inc. Terms of Use | Privacy Policy
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People stop to pay homage to Pat Tillman on Wednesday at a growing memorial near Sun Devil Stadium that honors the former ASU and Arizona Cardinals football star. Tillman shrine continues to grow at stadium By Bryon Wells, TribuneA military Kevlar helmet. Letters and cards to the surviving family. Police department patches. National Defense and Purple Heart medals. Football trading cards.
Those are just some of the many personal items left by scores of people from across Arizona who have made a pilgrimage to an ever-growing shrine honoring fallen Army Ranger Pat Tillman near Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe. The trend has shown no sign of slowing in the week since Tillman was killed April 22 in Afghanistan.
"It's been nonstop," said Mark Brand, an Arizona State University athletics spokesman. "It's just been incredible. And it's still going."
From a window at the stadium's Carson Student-Athlete Center, Brand has been able to steady flow of well-wishers who have visited the memorial, which has mushroomed beyond expectation outside the stadium's south entrance since Tillman's death.
Brand said ASU officials may set up a tent to cover the sprawling shrine from the elements. There is no word yet on a public memorial service at ASU, though one is expected. Tillman was a star football player for ASU and the Arizona Cardinals who walked away from his lucrative pro career to join the Army after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Cases with military ribbons were placed at the site by anonymous veterans in solidarity with their fallen comrade. Hats embroidered with "Korea Veteran," "Vietnam, 1966-1973" and even an encased placard with World War II medals and ribbons show that Tillman's death has touched several generations of combat veterans.
"That floored me," Brand said upon seeing the mementos.
Tillman's death also brought the war home for ASU broadcast journalism junior Steve Hershey, 21. Hershey said he passes the memorial every day on the way to campus. "I think we take it for granted that there are people my age overseas fighting. Someone like this, that puts a face on it," he said.
A public memorial service in Tillman's hometown of San Jose, Calif., has been planned for the week of May 2, although his family has not yet announced specific date. Tillman has been posthumously promoted to the rank of corporal and has been awarded the Purple Heart and Meritorious Service Medal, said Kevin Walston an Army Special Operations Command spokesman.
Gene Smith, ASU athletics director, released a statement saying an announcement is planned early next week regarding a local memorial service. Smith also thanked the public for support during "a very difficult time."
"We understand the need for our community to pay the proper respects to Pat while also giving the family proper time to grieve," Smith said.
Tillman shunned the spotlight after his decision to leave football. One anonymous well-wisher noted the irony: "Even though it seems that Pat wanted to be an average guy, he'll go down in history as a man that was bigger than life."Contact Bryon Wells by email, or phone (480) 898-6536ADVERTISERS...Click for lunch coupons of the week VISIT OUR AFFILIATES : | Arizona Interactive Media Group | Ahwatukee Foothills News | Daily News Sun | Get Out | Yuma Sun | Freedom Communications, Inc. Terms of Use | Privacy Policy
