Photo By Spc. stephanie ybarra | Wide receiver KD Cannon, 2014 U.S. Army All-American Bowl West Team, from Mount...... read more read more
SAN ANTONIO – Players from East Team and West Team will face each other in a fierce competition Jan. 4, 2014, at the 2014 U.S. Army All-American Bowl, but they set the rivalry aside to visit St. Peter - St. Joseph Children's Home in San Antonio Jan. 1, 2014.
Santos Barrientos, the activities coordinator for St. PJ’s, put the event together for the children. The players autographed footballs and handed them out to the children. Afterward, the players and children went to nearby Concepcion Park for a football scrimmage.
“I saw the event as an opportunity for a distraction from the kids’ everyday lives,” Barrientos said. “They’ve been through a lot.”
Barrientos said he likes to have events with the Army because the soldiers set a great example for the kids of how to respect others, and would like to create those experiences more often.
Army Reserve Sgt. 1st Class Christopher Gale, the 2012 U.S. Army Career Counselor of the year, from Big Lake, Minn., joined the players for the event.
“I can relate to these kids. I had a similar childhood. This place is great for them,” Gale said. “I wish my brothers and I had had something like this growing up. The Army saved me from my broken home.”
Laughter filled the lighthearted afternoon. The All-American players bantered back and forth about who was going to win the game, trying to get the children to side with them.
Children from St. PJ's will be attending the 14th annual U.S. Army All-American Bowl and cheering their favorite players at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Jan. 4, 2014.
For queries, contact the 205th Press Camp Headquarters by phone at commercial 210-466-2930 or by email tony.m.lindback.mil@mail.mil
| Date Taken: | 01.02.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 01.02.2014 16:44 |
| Story ID: | 118755 |
| Location: | SAN ANTONIO, TX, US |
| Hometown: | BIG LAKE, MN, US |
| Web Views: | 150 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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