Wednesday was Military Day at Eagles training camp and more than 300 Eagles fans currently serving in the military, most of whom were recently overseas, were the team’s guests of honor.
“I’ve said this before, but without the military we aren’t able to do what we do as professional athletes and coaches and as a country,’’ said coach Andy Reid, who toured Afghanistan with other NFL coaches last year. “Our hats are off to them and the great work that they do to protect us.”
Eagles WR Chad Hall certainly took his hat off the servicemen and women present, some from each branch of the service. Hall went to the Air Force Academy and served two years as a second lieutenant at Hill Air Force Base in Utah before joining the Eagles in 2010.
After the afternoon practice, Hall will be joined by Sgt. Shane Parsons, a representative from Wounded Warrior Project. Chad will be challenging his teammates to sponsor him as he shaves his head, with all proceeds benefitting WWP.
“I’ve heard a lot from all of my old troops, old friends still in the Air Force, even overseas in Afghanistan about shaving my head,’’ Hall said. “They don’t want me to, of course, because they’re jealous. But I’m just doing it for a good cause, trying to raise some money.
“I’m just trying to really take our minds off us and really appreciate these guys and what they do,’’ Hall added. “They’re over fighting for our freedom every day. We’re fighting on the field, but it’s so miniscule to what they really do. We’re just trying to gather a bunch of money today and give back to the Wounded Warriors."
For more up-to-the-minute news and analysis on the Philadelphia Eagles from blogger Kevin Noonan, follow @CBSSportsNFLPHI.
