This New England Patriot with Rhode Island ties has been honored for his military service
The Patriots may not be in this year's Super Bowl, but at least one member of the team is a winner this week.
Long snapper Joe Cardona was named Wednesday as the recipient of the 2023 Salute to Service Award presented by USAA. The award recognizes the exceptional efforts by members of the NFL family to honor and support the military community.
More: Joe Cardona, who balances duties with Navy and Patriots, takes pride in saluting veterans.
More: By land and by sea, Patriots snapper Cardona fulfilled his duties.
As a rookie, Cardona balanced a second full-time job in the Navy, serving as a staff officer at the Naval Academy Preparatory School in Newport. In 2017, when he was promoted to lieutenant junior grade, he subsequently served in U.S. Forces Korea, supporting the on-going effort on the Korean Peninsula. In 2019, he attained the rank of lieutenant in the Navy. Currently, as a department head of Maritime Security Squadron 8, headquartered in Newport, he oversees the logistical needs of 500 sailors across the Eastern Seaboard.
“Joe Cardona represents the epitome of the NFL’s Salute to Service Award,” NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said. “His commitment to honoring, empowering and connecting with the military community as an active service member, while also dedicated to his Patriots teammates, truly sets him apart. He is the true embodiment of what it means to be an American hero. The entire NFL family salutes Joe for his service to our country and congratulates him as the recipient of this important award.”
Cardona is a nine-year NFL veteran, and in that time, has donated items to help military families impacted by natural disasters and led free football clinics for military children at bases across New England, according to the press release announcing the award. In 2018, Joe Cardona was honored with the Patriots Ron Burton Community Service Award, an accolade given to honor his work in the community.
In a 2016 interview with The Providence Journal, Cardona reflected on that challenging rookie season.
“There were some times that were tough,” he said. “I did what I had to do and took care of my jobs on both ends. Obviously, I’m really grateful for the opportunity on both ends. Not only to play in the NFL, but to be a naval officer is a tremendous opportunity. I wouldn’t want to do a disservice and do a bad job in either or slack off.”
In Wednesday's release announcing the award, Cardona thanked the team for accommodating his service.
“It is a tremendous honor to receive the NFL Salute to Service Award. I am thankful to the New England Patriots organization for accommodating my military service and I hope to be a model for future players who wish to serve,” he said. “I appreciate the partnership between the NFL and our military and the role I have been able to play in it. On the field, I hope to represent the fighting spirit of our veterans, as well as my brothers and sisters in arms whom I serve alongside today. I am proud to be the son of Patrick Cardona, a 24-year Navy veteran, and Margeret Cardona, who embodies the strength and selflessness of a military spouse. I am proud to be an officer in the United States Navy and player in the NFL; with or without recognition I will continue to do my job.”
Cardona will be recognized at NFL Honors, a prime-time awards special to air nationally on CBS-TV and the NFL Network on Thursday at the Resorts World Theatre in Las Vegas. Other finalists nominated for this year's award were Green Bay Packers running back Aaron Jones and San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle.
USAA, which provides insurance, banking and other financial services to U.S. military members, veterans and their families, will contribute $25,000 in Cardona’s honor to the official aid societies representing each of the military branches. The NFL Foundation will match USAA's donation of $25,000, which will be donated to Cardona’s military charity of choice.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Patriots long snapper Joe Cardona wins Salute to Service Award
