From the Steelers family to yours ...
Veterans Day weekend is a time for Americans to come together around love of country and of those who have protected our liberty, writes former Steelers player
For me and many Americans, Veterans Day weekend is all about family. Actually, between Veterans Day and Thanksgiving, November is all about faith, family and football. In our family, because of the service of my son, Kyle, in the Army and my wife, Faith, in the Air Force, coupled with the fact that I played for the Steelers, there is a perfect union of service and Steelers.
Veterans Day is when we celebrate the service and remember the sacrifice of our family members on behalf of our country. And I’d bet that there aren’t many Pittsburghers who don’t have at least one family member who served in our great military. Whether it’s a brother, sister, mom, dad, aunt, uncle or other relative, many wars — too many wars — have called our familymembers to service.
The Wolfley family is much like yours, I’m guessing. The pride, the concern, the loving, the missing — it all runs through a parent’s heart and mind when a child serves in the military. I know this feeling firsthand. I am forever grateful not only to those members of my family who have served, but also to the hundreds of thousands of other Americans who have or are protecting our great country.
When I think about family and the military, my thoughts often run to the Gold Star families. Their grief and pride reflect an unimaginable sacrifice to duty, one I pray to God Almighty that I will never have to experience.
Another special family with strong ties to our military and veterans is the Steelers family, of which I am proud to be a member.
Let’s start with The Chief, Art Rooney Sr. His brothers, Dan, John and Tom fought in World War II. When Tom didn’t make it back, the Rooneys became a Gold Star Family. The list goes on, with The Chief’s two sons, Art Jr. and Pat, along with grandsons Tom and Bryan, having proudly served. And let’s not forget the civic service of the late, beloved Dan Rooney as ambassador to Ireland. Service, patriotism and sacrifice runs deep in the Steelers family.
I also think of the great Rocky Bleier. Men other than The Chief or Dan Rooney might have cut him from the team after he was injured in war. Not the Steelers. Andy Russell, John Banaczak and many, many other Steelers also have served our country.
Pride and support for our military runs deep in the Steelers. When a wounded soldier returned to Pittsburgh in need of a home that would suit him and his family, Steelers stepped forward. When our military deploys, Steelers help keep families connected through video conferencing and live gameday broadcasts. Steelers support for veterans’ organizations such as Operation Troop Assistance and PA Wounded Warriors runs deep.
I have been with Steelers players as they’ve visited our wounded
warriors at Walter Reed Medical Center, and I’ve had the immense privilege of joining with players and the region’s finest servicemembers for the VA-driven “Heroes at Heinz Field” program in a display of love, camaraderie and deep appreciation for one another.
You see, we are family. And like all families, we sometimes disagree. We know that there have been recent disagreements involving player protests that have put the NFL at center stage. But as with all strong families, disagreements should not and will not divide us. They don’t in the Wolfley family, and they don’t in the Steelers family.
The Steelers today are an outstanding group of young men who proudly salute our military and veterans. T.J. Watt’s grandfather served in the military. Le’Veon Bell’s aunt serves in the Army now. Jerald Hawkins’ two brothers have both been deployed several times to Iraq and Afghanistan. The list goes on and on. Almost every player has family members who have served — or has served himself.
Offensive tackle Alejandro Villanueva endured three tours in Afghanistan, rising to the rank of Army captain and becoming an Army Ranger. Al’s dedication, loyalty and commitment to his brothers in arms remains unswerving, much as he continues to lock arms with his fellow teammates, and they with him, on and off the field.
And so, on this Veterans Day weekend and in the days ahead, I ask all Americans to think of family, to act as family, to be a family.