MIAMI – Miami Dolphins players Michael Deiter and Frank Herron, alumni Donald Brown, Troy Drayton, Lorenzo Hampton and O.J. McDuffie, cheerleaders and staff spent the day alongside FOOTBALL UNITES™ community partners at FOOTBALL UNITES™ United We Stand Veteran’s Social Tour to experience South Florida’s rich and historic military background on Tuesday, November 12.
“It’s a part of our community, a part of our country what they do for us and its cool that we can come and understand what they do, how they operate and just meet the people, sit and hang out with them, build relationships and it makes for a better community,” Deiter said. “I am glad I get the opportunity to do stuff like this and see who makes up South Florida.”
In recognition of the NFL’s Salute to Service campaign, the group visited key military historical sites such as the Miami Military Museum, the Gold Coast Railway Museum and South Florida’s Air Naval Operations and included a presentation by the Southern Strike Battalion Cadets. The tour concluded with a visit to Florida International University’s (FIU) ROTC Training Center where the group participated in a Veteran’s Day obstacle course challenge and concluded with an award ceremony.
“As a society, it is important for us to always remember what history has taught us, lessons learned and bringing everyone together and being able to teach them is just me helping to carry on traditions of military history as well as keeping legacies alive — especially the men and women who have served in the past,” Lieutenant Colonel Heath E. Papkov said. “Keeping them in our memories — those that are not here today and those that continue to serve and give honor to them — we are doing that by bringing everyone together for these types of events.”
These initiatives align with the organization’s goal to level the playing field through the power of teamwork to inspire a healthier, more educated and united South Florida community. Dolphins Chairman of the Board & Managing General Partner Stephen Ross and Dolphins players created the FOOTBALL UNITES™ program as a way to bring positive social change. The Miami Dolphins organization believes it is important to be inclusive of the diversity and aware of the intersections that make up South Florida, uniting groups of different races, genders, sexual orientations, identities, abilities and faiths around the power of football.
These programs connect to the NFL’s Inspire Change platform, showcasing the collaborative efforts of players, owners and the league to create positive change in communities across the country and work with RISE – the Ross Initiative in Sports for Equality – to eliminate racial discrimination, champion social justice and improve race relations. Information on the FOOTBALL UNITES™ program can be found here. To learn more about RISE, visit here.
