Pat Tillman's Widow: Leave My Husband Out of This

Marie Tillman responds to a presidential retweet
By Newser Editors,  Newser Staff
Posted Sep 26, 2017 1:34 PM CDT
Pat Tillman's Widow: Leave My Husband Out of This
Marie Tillman arrives at the 2013 ESPY Awards at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.   (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

Part of President Trump's recent flurry of tweets about the NFL and the national anthem was actually a retweet that mentioned the late NFL-star-turned-soldier Pat Tillman. And his widow is none too pleased about it. "Pat's service, along with that of every man and woman's service, should never be politicized in a way that divides us," wrote Marie Tillman in a statement to CNN. "It is my hope that his memory should always remind people that we must come together."

Tillman left the Arizona Cardinals in 2002 in the wake of the 9/11 attacks and served as an Army Ranger in Iraq and Afghanistan. He was killed by friendly fire in 2004, though the government initially tried to cover up the details, notes NPR. The original tweet read, "NFLplayer PatTillman joined U.S. Army in 2002. He was killed in action 2004. He fought 4our country/freedom," and included the hashtags "StandForOurAnthem" and "BoycottNFL." (More Pat Tillman stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X