Prince Harry received the Pat Tillman Award for Service at the 2024 ESPY Awards despite the backlash surrounding the honor.
The Duke of Sussex, 39, accepted the award at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles on Thursday, July 11. He began his speech which was received with thanks. Marie Tillman Shentoncofounder of the Tillman Foundation and recognized the rest of the Tillman family, including mother Pat, Mary Tillman.
“(Mary’s) advocacy for Pat’s legacy is very personal and one that I respect. The bond between mother and son is eternal and beyond the greatest honor,” Harry told the crowd. “Actually, I am not Prince Harry, the recipient of the Pat Tillman Award, but a voice for the Invictus Games Foundation and the thousands of veterans and service personnel in 20 countries who have made the Invictus Games a reality. This award belongs to him, not me. That said, it is very important for me to highlight the amazing allies, athletes and their families for their achievements of passion and courage at every opportunity, especially on a night like this in front of people like you.
The prince explained that in the past decade, the game has helped reduce the number of suicides of veterans, pointing out that the “spirit” of the Invictus Games “transcenter race, time and border,” “born of unity” and “exude purpose.”
“And while a lot of progress has been made since the first game, the world outside seems to be in a more precarious situation. We live in an age marked by polarization and division. Conflict rages around the globe,” he said, noting that the Invictus community “challenges” different and “prove that unity is not only possible but very good.”
“The beauty of the Invictus Games lies in the way it unites people regardless of nationality, background or personal struggle. It is a collective, built on courage and cooperation,” he explained. “Where athletes find time and time again the common denominator of their humanity . Having survived the crucible of armed combat and fake through the challenge to build the body and mind impact through the conflict, they form a family. The best example for all of us. There is a military expression that dates back to Roman times. … The phrase roughly translates to ‘Don’t leave anyone behind.’ … I have no doubt Pat Tillman and his friends live by those words.
He ended his speech by pledging that “no matter what road lies ahead” the Invictus Games will be “no turning back.”
The Pat Tillman Award is given to someone with a strong connection to the sport who has helped others in a way that honors Tillman’s legacy. Tillman, who was a safety for the Arizona Cardinals from 1998 to 2001, was killed in action while serving as a US Army Ranger in Afghanistan in 2004.
Harry was recognized for his 10 years of service in the British Armed Forces and for founding the Invictus Games, an international event where active service members and veterans who have been wounded, injured or ill compete in sporting events.
Previous recipients of the Pat Tillman Award include football stars Marcus Rashfordwho raised millions during the Covid pandemic to feed children in the UK, retired Army Command Sergeant Major Gretchen Evans and the Buffalo Bills training staff who helped save Damar Hamlinlife after a heart attack.
In addition to Harry, the 2024 ESPY Awards honor former NFL players Steve Gleason with the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage and the University of South Carolina women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley with the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance.
“It is our privilege to recognize three extraordinary individuals – Steve Gleason, Dawn Staley and Prince Harry,” Kate Jackson, ESPN’s vice president of production, said in June. “These honorees have used their platforms to change the world and empower marginalized and disadvantaged communities, demonstrating incredible resilience, positivity and perseverance, and we are delighted to celebrate them at The 2024 ESPYS.”
After Harry was announced as the recipient of the Pat Tillman Award, Tillman’s mother, Mary Tillman, criticized the choice.
“I am surprised why they chose such a controversial and divisive individual to receive the award,” he said. Daily Mail in June. “There are more suitable recipients. There are individuals working in the veteran community who are doing incredible things to help veterans.
He added: “These people don’t have the money, the resources, the connections or the privileges that Prince Harry has. I think these types of individuals need to be recognised.
In response to the backlash, ESPN still chose Harry for the award.
“ESPN, with the support of the Tillman Foundation, is honoring Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, specifically for the work of The Invictus Games Foundation as it celebrates 10 years of promoting healing through the power of sport for military service members and veterans around the world,” ESPN said in a statement to Us Weekly. “While we understand that not everyone will agree with all of the nominees for any award, The Invictus Games Foundation does an incredible job and ESPN believes this is a reason to celebrate.”