Delaware veteran gets one-on-one with Aidan Hutchinson at Super Bowl in Las Vegas
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Aidan Hutchison is helping send a Delaware veteran to the Super Bowl in Las Vegas and will meet with the West Point graduate before the big game.
The lucky recipient of two tickets to the Super Bowl, William "Russ" Hall was chosen by the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Hall, who will attend the game with his wife, lives in Symrna, Delaware, and his favorite NFL team is the Philadelphia Eagles.
He'll get to spend some time with Hutchinson at a lounge at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, along with other veterans who are also being given tickets to the game.
The tribute is sponsored by USAA, (the United Services Automobile Association), a company that provides financial services and insurance to military members, veterans, and their families, in partnership with the NFL.
After graduating from the U.S. Military Academy, Hall served an armored cavalry officer and strategic planner for 27 years, rising to the rank of lieutenant colonel. He spent over 10 years deployed in Germany and had multiple deployments to Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo.
Hall holds the position of chair of the VFW National Strategic Planning Committee and is a two-time past All-American VFW state commander.
Hutchinson, who is not personally paying for Hall's travel expenses or bowl tickets, issued a statement Thursday: "As athletes, we endure challenges on the field, but our battles pale in comparison to the sacrifices made by the military."
Referring to the Lions' loss last month in the NFC championship game against the San Francisco 49ers, Hutchinson said: "While this season didn’t end the way we hoped, I’m excited to join USAA and the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) to create an unforgettable memory for Lt. Col. Russ Hall, a deserving military veteran. We have a lot in common, like our dedication, determination, and patriotism, and I can’t wait to meet Lt. Col. Hall in Las Vegas.”
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions' Aidan Hutchinson to meet with vet before Super Bowl.
