July 12th 2024.
At this year's ESPY awards in the US, Prince Harry received the prestigious Pat Tillman Award for Service. This award is given by sports channel ESPN to individuals in the sporting world who have made significant contributions to the lives of others. Harry was recognized for his role in founding the Invictus Games, a decade ago, to support injured and sick servicemen and women who are navigating physical and invisible injuries.
In his speech, Harry began by acknowledging the family of former NFL player and US Army Ranger Pat Tillman, whose legacy the award bears. He specifically mentioned Mrs. Mary Tillman, Pat's mother, who had reportedly expressed her disapproval of Harry being selected for the award. Despite this, Harry showed his respect for her dedication to preserving her son's legacy, acknowledging the deep bond between a mother and son that transcends even the greatest losses.
It is worth noting that this ceremony took place just before the anniversary of the death of Harry's own mother, Diana, Princess of Wales. Accompanied by his wife, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, the couple attended the event to support Harry as he received the award from his friend, tennis champion Serena Williams, who hosted the ceremony.
During her opening monologue, Williams joked about not wanting to be overshadowed by the presence of the royal couple, saying, "Please Harry and Meghan, try not to breathe too much tonight, because this is my night." However, the couple's appearance was not the only unexpected moment of the night. Before the ceremony, a small aircraft flew over the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, bearing a cryptic message for Harry to "Investigate Mum's Death." It is still unclear who arranged for this message to be flown around Hollywood, but it definitely added to the already emotional atmosphere of the evening.
ESPN praised Harry for his tireless work in making a positive impact for the veteran community through the power of sport. The Invictus Games, which Harry founded, have transcended borders and impacted lives across every continent over the last 10 years. In his speech, Harry acknowledged the progress that has been made but also highlighted the state of the world, with conflicts raging and division and resentment seemingly pervading societies everywhere.
However, he also emphasized how the Invictus Games bring people together, regardless of nationality, background, or personal struggles. It is a community built on courage and mutual respect, where athletes discover the common denominator of their humanity, having survived the crucible of armed combat and the challenge of rebuilding their bodies and minds. They form a family and embody the best in all of us.
In May, Harry traveled to the UK for a special event at St Paul's Cathedral to mark 10 years of the Invictus Games. He served on two frontline tours in Afghanistan and spent 10 years in the British armed forces. However, in 2021, a year after stepping down as a senior working royal, he was stripped of his military patronages by his grandmother, the late Queen. Despite this, Harry stood on stage not as Prince Harry but as a voice for the Invictus Games Foundation and the thousands of veterans and service personnel from over 20 nations who have made the Invictus Games a reality.
He humbly stated that the award belonged to them, not to him, and he took the opportunity to highlight their achievements, spirit, and courage, especially on nights like this, in front of a prestigious audience like the one gathered at the ESPY awards. In conclusion, Harry made a promise on behalf of the foundation, saying, "No matter the road ahead, we are here for you. We will leave no one behind."
Other honorees at the event included Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford, who received the award for his high-profile campaign to provide free meals to vulnerable children in England during the Covid pandemic. Olympic gold-medal winner and University of South Carolina women's basketball head coach, Dawn Staley, received the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance, while former NFL player Steve Gleason, who was diagnosed with ALS, received the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage for his work in supporting others with the degenerative disease. The Steve Gleason Act, which he successfully lobbied for, ensures access to speech generation communication technology in the US.
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