By Jim Seavey, Massachusetts Maritime Academy
The Massachusetts Maritime and Bridgewater State Student-Athlete Advisory Committees will team up on Saturday afternoon during the 36th Annual Cranberry Bowl Presented By Ocean Spray for a day-long celebration of veterans and all current servicemen and women which will also serve as a fundraising event for the Pat Tillman Foundation.
Bridgewater State Athletics and the office of Military and Veterans Student Services are co-sponsoring "Military Appteciation Day" as part of the annual football contest between the two schools. The event will include a pre-game ceremony prior to the noon kickoff at Swenson Field in Bridgewater, Mass.
"The event is a wonderful opportunity for the Bridgewater State community, in the spirit of Veterans Day, to show our Military members and veterans that we thank them for their patriotism, love of country, and their willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good," noted BSU Military and Veterans Affairs Counselor, Michael Siegel.
Donations for the Pat Tillman Foundation can be made throughout the game, and Tillman Foundation Nike dri-fit shirts will also be available for purchase. The Massachusetts Maritime SAAC has partnered with the Tillman Foundation throughout the 2014 season to raise funds and awareness for the organization, collecting over $2,200 to date.
“We are proud to team up with Bridgewater State’s student-athletes and staff in continuing to honor our veterans and supporting the great work of the Tillman Foundation,” said Dylan Freudenberg, a senior on the Massachusetts Maritime men’s lacrosse team who is serving as president of the Buccaneer SAAC this year. “All veterans and current servicemen and women can never be thanked enough.”
“I love seeing two rivals come together to help honor our veterans and raise money for a great cause,” added Megan Boutilette, a senior on the Bridgewater State women’s basketball team who is serving as the Bears’ SAAC president this year. “They have done so much for us, and it is important that we do all we can to show how much we appreciate them.”
In 2002, Pat Tillman, a GTE Academic All-America and Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year at Arizona State University, proudly put his NFL career with the Arizona Cardinals on hold to serve his country. Family and friends established the Pat Tillman Foundation following Pat’s death in April 2004 while serving with the 75th Ranger Regiment in Afghanistan.
Created to honor Pat’s legacy of leadership and service, the Pat Tillman Foundation is a national leader in providing academic support and resources to veterans, active-duty service members and their spouses.
Through the Tillman Military Scholars program, the foundation annually awards academic scholarships for military veterans and spouses who are committed to a life of service in and out of uniform. To date, the Pat Tillman Foundation has invested nearly $10 million in academic support and scholarships, helping nearly 350 Tillman Military Scholars continue serving our country and communities through their studies in medicine, law, business, government, education and the arts.