Tennessee Titans player Harry Douglas takes a photo with Veteran Patricia Creech at the Tennessee Valley Healthcare System's Nashville medical center on Dec. 19, 2017. Douglas and Titans teammate Avery Williamson visited the VA hospital in coordination with the American Red Cross. (Furnished Photo)
Two Tennessee Titans players visited Veterans at the VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System (TVHS) Nashville medical center Tuesday, Dec. 19.
Linebacker Avery Williamson and wide receiver Harry Douglas made rounds through outpatient wards, handing out Titans flags, signing autographs and taking photos with Veterans.
Military service runs in Williamson’s family. His brother, some of his cousins, his great uncle and his grandfather all served. He took part in the NFL’s “My Cause, My Cleats” initiative, which allows players to wear customized cleats in honor of a charitable cause. The cause Williamson chose: military appreciation. For him, this visit provided an opportunity to thank people who have protected the nation.
“These people have actually done it,” said Williamson, who played his college football at the University of Kentucky. “They’ve risked their lives. It’s definitely an honor just to be able to shake their hands and to be able to say thank you.”
Douglas, who played his college football at the University of Louisville, agreed. His grandfather fought in Vietnam, and his upbringing included a focus on giving back – so much so that he and his brother Toney created the Douglas Brothers Foundation. The organization provides numerous community services. He said showing appreciation to Veterans is particularly important.
“You could never thank them enough,” said Douglas, “but I try to thank them as much as possible for allowing my family and other people’s families to be able to do what they want to do.”
Betsy Mularkey, wife of Titans head coach Mike Mularkey, accompanied the players in the visit, which was coordinated through the American Red Cross. Together, they arranged to bring more than 900 holiday cards signed by members of the Tennessee Titans organization to distribute to Veterans at the hospital as part of the Red Cross Holiday Cards for Heroes program.
“Today is all about being able to show appreciation,” said Paula Merrifield, American Red Cross in Nashville’s lead volunteer for Service to the Armed Forces. “Holiday Cards for Heroes is a great opportunity to do that.”
TVHS is an integrated tertiary health care system comprised of two hospitals, the Alvin C. York Campus in Murfreesboro and the Nashville Campus, as well as more than a dozen community-based outpatient clinics located in Tennessee and Kentucky. TVHS provides ambulatory care, primary care, and secondary care in acute medicine and surgery, specialized tertiary care, transplant services, spinal cord injury outpatient care, and a full range of extended care and mental health services.
(Chris Vadnais, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Public Affairs Officer)
