Photo By Sgt. Ryan Scott | Arizona Cardinals Pro Bowl players Patrick Peterson (left) and Antonio Cromartie...... read more read more
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PHOENIX – As fans around the country anticipate the 2015 National Football League Pro Bowl, the game’s elite players participated in a community service project alongside Arizona National Guard members at Papago Park Military Reservation Jan. 21.
Players from across the league donned gloves and took up shovels and wheelbarrows to help put the finishing touches on a new fitness trail built by volunteers from the Arizona National Guard, the NFL, USAA and the United Way.
“We had a lot of people out here over the weekend working really hard to get this trail ready,” said Army 1st Sgt. Michael Kirby, security chief at Papago Park Military Reservation. “It was great to get to work alongside the NFL players to get it all finished.”
Hundreds of volunteers were on hand to complete the final push to finish the nine-station fitness track on a one-mile loop on the north side of the reservation.
“Whenever we can get this many people this interested in the military, it’s great,” said Kirby. “This kind of support from the community makes us really feel appreciated.”
The fitness course consists of body-weight workout equipment evenly spaced along the trail. Running from station to station, performing each workout in order, will give users an intense full-body workout.
“This will have a lasting and meaningful impact on our community,” said Air Force Brig. Gen. Edward Maxwell, commander of the Arizona Air National Guard. “It will serve to highlight our partnerships and the common values of teamwork, community and physical fitness that are so important in athletics as well as in military service.”
A few dozen citizen Soldiers and Airmen were among those who volunteered time and labor to the project.
“Just today, we cleared the area, leveled the ground, dug 14 holes, assembled the equipment and poured concrete,” said Airman 1st Class Carlos Armijo, a maintenance scheduler with the 161st Air Refueling Wing.
“It feels pretty good to know that what we built today is going to help my fellow Guardsmen keep fit and healthy – not just today, but for years to come,” he said.
The players weren’t afraid to get their hands dirty and help with pouring concrete and moving large pieces of equipment.
“Ever since we were 6 or 7 ... [my dad] always preached to us to be active in our community and do what we could to help,” said Arizona Cardinals defensive end Calais Campbell. “All of the players are really excited to be able to give back.”
“It was really cool to have people with their fame and talent out here working just as hard as we were – getting in the dirt, helping us get this accomplished,” said Armijo.
| Date Taken: | 01.21.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 01.22.2015 19:15 |
| Story ID: | 152520 |
| Location: | PHOENIX, AZ, US |
| Web Views: | 383 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, NFL Pro Bowl players, Arizona Guard members build fitness course, by SGT Ryan Scott, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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