GEORGE KITTLE: FROM NFL STAR TO A SYMBOL OF MILITARY APPRECIATION
TheĀ San Francisco 49ersĀ donāt just have one of the NFLās best tight ends; they also have a man with aĀ big heart.Ā George KittleĀ was honored with theĀ NFL Salute to Service AwardĀ on Wednesday for his ongoing efforts to honor and support the military.
What makes this special?Ā Kittle is the first member in 49ers history to receive this award, a distinction given to individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the military community since the award was created in 2011.
MORE THAN A TITLE ā A MISSION
In hisĀ eight-year career, Kittle has beenĀ nominated four timesĀ for the award. But what sets him apart isnāt just the recognition ā itās what he has done to support the military:
Ā Over $250,000 donatedĀ to military nonprofits.Ā More than 400 free ticketsĀ given to military personnel and frontline workers to attend 49ers games.Ā Building personal connections with military families: Every year, Kittle invites the family ofĀ Sergeant Martin LaMarĀ to the 49ersā training camp. LaMar, from Sacramento, was killed in Mosul, Iraq, in 2011. To honor him, Kittle keeps LaMarāsĀ Purple HeartĀ in his locker.
On top of that, Kittle and his family createdĀ an app that provides free mental health resourcesĀ for veterans.
āWE LIVE THIS LIFE BECAUSE OF THEIR SACRIFICESā
When talking about why heās so dedicated to the military community, Kittle shared:
Ā āI watched my Uncle Pat serve multiple tours with the National Guard, and saw firsthand how it impacted him and his family while he was overseas. Weāre allowed to live the lives we live here because of the sacrifices they make, so weāre just trying to honor them, show our support, and share as much love as we can.ā
At theĀ NFL HonorsĀ inĀ New Orleans on Thursday, Kittle will be officially recognized alongside other finalists:Ā Aaron Jones (Vikings)Ā andĀ Morgan Fox (Chargers).
But perhaps, with everything he has done,Ā George Kittle has already won in the truest sense ā not just on the football field, but in the hearts of the soldiers he so deeply values.
