FORT LEWIS, Wash. - It took a little while, but Brandon Roy of the Portland Trailblazers made his first visit to Fort Lewis a memorable one during a June 25 appearance at the Fort Lewis PX.
"I've always driven past Fort Lewis on I-5 and thought that it would be cool to come out and meet some Soldiers and their families," Roy said.
The Seattle native, a two-time NBA all-star and the league's 2007 Rookie of the Year, said he wanted to redirect the appreciation he received during the autograph session.
"I'm signing autographs and they're thanking me for being here," Roy said, "but I just want to thank them for everything they do, not just for me but for our country and my children."
Virgil Garcia of Spanaway was second in line to meet the 6-foot-6-inch guard, who led the Blazers in scoring last season with 26.7 points per game.
"I'm kind of speechless in this moment from being in the presence of a (professional) athlete," said Garcia, "especially a person who is from here (and) has made it big."
Plenty of fans stopped by, but Roy probably made the biggest impact on children such as Bria Erron, who look to Roy as a role model. Phyllis Erron said she granted her daughter's request to see Roy because she's well aware of the impact celebrities can have on impressionable youth.
"(This) makes the kids feel that they're a part of what's going on near their home and with what's happening in the United States," she said.
Staff Sgt. Robert Harris also brought his child to the PX to show that some athletes stay connected with the community. He had some advice for those who don't make these appearances.
"I would tell them to come out," Harris said, "because it's going to broaden their horizons and keep them in touch with the community."
Walter Baade said he stays informed by receiving e-mail from the Army and Air Force Exchange Service announcing celebrity visits. He told 15-year-old grandson Carson O'Leary about the event. O'Leary enjoyed meeting his favorite player in his first encounter with a professional basketball player.
"I like watching his shot and learning from that and using it in my game," O'Leary said.
Roy also spoke of the leg injury he suffered during the 2007-08 season, knowing that Soldiers sometimes face similar challenges.
"Anything that I can say to the Soldiers is to just continue to look at the goal ahead," said Roy, "which is to recover and do whatever you can when you recover to never look back."
Seahawks' rookie 'grew up around a military base'
It was a back-to-back blitz at the Fort Lewis PX as Seattle Seahawks' first-round draft choice Aaron Curry stopped by June 26, the day after the Portland Trailblazers' Brandon Roy appeared there.
The rookie graduated from Wake Forest with a sociology degree and won the 2008 Butkus Award as college football's top linebacker.
"I just want to say thanks to all of the troops overseas taking care of our country," Curry said, "as well as the Soldiers enlisting right now because of what they are getting into."
The Fayetteville, N.C., native is no stranger to the military. His uncle and stepfather served in the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg.
"Because I grew up around a military base, I was able to interact with a lot of military personnel," said Curry, adding that meeting Soldiers is always special.
"I think the turnout was amazing just for me to come out here," Curry said. "I'm just as excited to play in front of them."
Curry said it means a lot to him to be able to play football in front of the "12th Man," as the Seahawks' fans are collectively known.
"I'm just grateful and humbled to be able to carry on with my life," said Curry, "and know that I'm protected."
Spc. Aaron Carpenter is assigned to the 28th Public Affairs Detachment. These stories appeared in Fort Lewis' Northwest Guardian.
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