Former Washington Redskins star Brian Mitchell tries to move around former Cleveland Browns player Eric Metcalf as an amputee player rushes in to yank the flag off Mitchell. U.S. Army photo by J.D. Leipold.
Posted November 22, 2013
A team of Wounded Warrior amputees, Washington Redskins, and National Football League (NFL) greats gathered November 16 for the first ever Wounded Warrior Amputees versus Washington Redskins and NFL Alumni flag football challenge. The Wounded Warrior Amputee Football Team remained undefeated with a 28-21 victory.
The game was part of Warrior Care Month, an observance established by the U.S. Department of Defense in 2008 as a way of making the public aware of the sacrifices of wounded, ill, or injured servicemembers. It was held at Bishop O’Connell High School’s McMurtrie Stadium, Arlington, Virginia.
Redskins stars Brian Mitchell and LaVar Arrington, whose father is an amputee veteran, hosted the event along with more than 25 other Redskins players and NFL alumni.
Former Miami Dolphin kicker Garo Yepremian and Washington Redskins defensive back Mike Bass were reunited as part of the tribute to reenact their famous Super Bowl VII blocked field goal attempt and subsequent “pass,” which has been named “NFL Films #1 Football Folly.”
The fundraising effort was put on by the Military Benefit Association, which raised $60,000 for the Wounded Warrior Amputee Football Team and raffled off a grand prize trip for two to see the Washington Redskins take on the New York Giants on December 29.
The Wounded Warrior Amputee Football Team is scheduled to face off against 9/11 first responders from the New York Fire Department on January 25, 2014.
