Source: ESPYS
please welcome the recipient of the pat tman award for service Prince Harry the Duke of Sussex [Music] [Music] whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa come back come back you guys got to stay here for me um um thank you Elizabeth Israel and Kirsty um stay here you need to be with me um I’d like to begin by expressing my deepest gratitude to everyone at the pat Tilman Foundation led by Marie Tilman shenton who I’m so honored is here tonight I’d also like to acknowledge the Tilman family especially Mrs Mary Tilman Pat’s mother her advocacy for Pat’s Legacy is deeply personal and one that I respect the bond between a mother and son is eternal and transcends even the greatest losses the truth is I stand here not as Prince Harry Pat Tilman award recipient but rather a voice on behalf of the Invictus games foundation and the thousands of veterans and service Personnel from over 20 Nations who have made the Invictus games a reality this award belongs to them not to me that said it is of great importance to me to highlight these allies athletes and their amazing families for their achievements their spirit and their courage at every opportunity especially on nights like this in front of people like you moments like these help us reach those that need Invictus most and reduce more than 20 veterans a day talking taking their own lives in this country alone for those who may not know Invictus comes from Latin meaning undefeated or unconquerable Nelson Mandela credited the poem of the same name written by the poet William Ernest Henley for giving him the strength to endure nearly 30 years of imprisonment like that poem The Spirit of the Invictus games transcends race time and borders it is born from unity and exudes purpose this year we’re celebrating 10 years of witnessing life-changing impact and healing through Sport and while so much progress has been made since those first games the world outside seems to be in an even more precarious State we live in an age marked by polarization and division conflicts rage around the globe anger and resentment towards those who are different seem to pervade societies everywhere our community challenges that our community proves that Unity is not just possible but formidable the beauty of the invictor games lies in how it brings people together no matter one’s nationality background or personal struggles it is a collective built from Courage and mutual respect where athletes Discover Time and Time Again the common denominator of their Humanity having Survived The Crucible of armed combat and forged through the challenge to rebuild bodies and Minds impacted by conflict they form a family they exemplify the very best in all of us there is a military expression that dates back to Roman times I’ll spare you another Latin lesson but the phrase the phrase translates or the phrases translates roughly to leave no one behind and they hold particular significance for the US Army’s Rangers and I have no doubt Pat Tilman and his comrades lived by those words so it is fitting that I end with them and make a promise on behalf of all of us at the Invictus game Foundation no matter the road ahead we are here for you we will leave no one behind thank you [Applause] [Music]
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