Belvoir youth train with pros at NFL Salute to Play 60 event

By Rick Musselman, Belvoir Eagle Sports EditorOctober 10, 2014

Hatcher
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Grant
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Morris
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Williams
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Fort Belvoir, Va. (Oct. 9, 2014) - Hundreds of youth athletes from Fort Belvoir and several other military installations around the Washington, D.C. metro area learned from Washington Redskins players about the benefits of leading an active lifestyle and maintaining proper eating habits during the 2nd annual Salute to Play 60 Military Challenge, Sept. 30 at Pullen Field.

The event, hosted by the Washington Redskins Charitable Foundation, the Department of Defense, Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines, and supporting sponsor United Services Automobile Association, an official military appreciation sponsor of the Redskins, was part of the National Football League's larger Salute to Play 60 campaign, a nationwide initiative which fights childhood obesity by encouraging youth to get active for at least 60 minutes a day. Working on behalf of the DOD and military services to encourage youth physical fitness and overall wellness, the Salute to Play 60 Military Challenge serves as a vehicle to get more than 400 children of military Families on installations across the Washington, D.C. region to track their daily activity for four weeks. Children with the highest involvement will be recognized during a 2014 Redskins home game.

"This is an effort to get kids between the ages of 9 and 14 to commit to getting active at least 60 minutes a day," said Julie Libert, Fort Belvoir Child, Youth and School Services assistant sports and fitness director. "We have six fitness stations and the kids will visit each of them to do a variety of exercises with Redskins players. Plus they'll get to play some flag football games with them."

Wives of players and coaches served as celebrity trainers at each exercise station, including Tanya Snyder, wife of Redskins owner Dan Snyder. Participants engaged in Zumba classes, kids' yoga, and inflatable relay races as Redskins players -- including running back Alfred Morris, wide receiver Ryan Grant, linebacker Trent Murphy, fullback Darrel Young, tight end Niles Paul, guard Shawn Lauvao, defensive end Jason Hatcher, safety Akeem Davis, and quarterback Robert Griffin III, a USAA spokesman who comes from a military Family himself -- assisted in leading the children through the workouts.

Following a meet-and-greet session during which military personnel spent some time with the professional athletes, Washington Redskins Senior Vice President/Executive Producer of Media Larry Michael officially opened the event by welcoming the young fitness enthusiasts to the Salute to Play 60, encouraging each to make the commitment to staying active and fit.

"The goal today is to have fun," Michael said. "After today we want all of you to go home and stay active, and keep a log of all that you're doing. The (participants) who have the highest activity numbers over the next 30 days will join us on Dec. 7 in a Play 60 game at one of our games."

"To the children here today, we hope you have fun, stay safe and be healthy," added Col. Michelle Mitchell, U.S. Army Garrison Fort Belvoir commander, during a brief address.

Snyder, a National Football League Salute to Play 60 spokeswoman, then got the children fired up and ready to get the event under way.

"We are so excited to be here today on behalf of the Washington Redskins and the Charitable Foundation, and everybody that had a part of today. Show your energy on the field; this is about getting those endorphins going and moving," Snyder said.

A particular highlight of the afternoon was a special guest appearance by legendary former Washington Redskins quarterback, Doug Williams, who led the team to a 42-10 victory over the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXII in January 1988, breaking several NFL post-season records in the process. Williams made a special point of showing his appreciation for America's armed forces.

"It's a pleasure for me and the guys to come out and give back to the men and women in uniform who have given so much to us," he said. "I just want to say thank you for allowing us to come out here today to be a part of Play 60. I also want to say thank you for what you've done to allow us to be free to do this. It's good to see all these young guys and young ladies out -- enjoy yourselves."

Participants spent nearly two hours working out at the fitness stations, meeting and interacting with the professional players and cheerleaders and learning how to build a strong foundation in nutrition and physical fitness, all while having a lot of fun. The Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association staffed a nutrition station to provide refreshments and teach participants how to eat right and live a healthy lifestyle. USO Metropolitan Washington Baltimore provided bottled water throughout the afternoon and USAA provided parents of participating children with informational handouts and giveaways.

More than 300 military personnel attended and participated in the festivities, with several area installations represented by the Army (Fort Belvoir, Fort Detrick and Joint Base Myer -- Henderson Hall), Navy (Naval District Washington and Patuxent River Naval Air Station), Air Force (Andrews Air Force Base) and Marine Corps (Joint Base Myer -- Henderson Hall and Marine Corps Base Quantico).

For more information regarding youth sports opportunities at Fort Belvoir, call Jerry Arrington, CYCC sports and fitness director, at (703) 805-9139 or visit www.belvoirmwr.com/Facilities/CYS/CYS_SportsFitness.php.