FORT LEE, Va. (April 2, 2015)--Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Steve Smith Sr. came to Fort Lee March 26 to take part in a youth football ProCamp sponsored by Procter and Gamble, and cohosted by the Family and MWR directorate and the Defense Commissary Agency headquarters here.
The Williams Stadium event drew 150 military kids and roughly 40 school and community league coaches from throughout the Tri-Cities area. In addition to practice drills and scrimmage games, the camp included a "smokehouse" race to identify the fastest youth participants, and a closing ceremony featuring gifts and free pizza.
"Today is all about having fun, making friends and playing football," said Smith as the evening event was getting under way. "I'm here because I know these kids look up to (professional athletes) just like I did when I was their age, and this is my chance to hopefully motivate them and show them there's a world of possibilities out there."
Smith is a five-time Pro-Bowler who amassed 79 catches, 1,065 receiving yards and six touchdowns last season with the Ravens. Prior to 2014, he played for the Carolina Panthers where, over a 13-year period, he was the team's all-time leader in touchdowns, 67, receptions, 836, and receiving yards, 12,197.
The 35-year-old Los Angeles native said he got involved in the youth sports ProCamps on military bases two years ago, and described it as "one of the most rewarding decisions" he has made in his career.
"We need to serve the people who serve us by putting their lives on the line," noted Smith, who will be traveling to Ramstein Air Base, Germany, for the next ProCamp. "Showing support in this way is the least I can do."
Army veteran Rod Huber, now the head football coach at Mount St. Joseph University in Cincinnati, also was part of the Fort Lee ProCamp entourage. He described Smith as "one of the most giving guys he has ever met in the National Football League," and said the power of the football camps for military youths goes well beyond a star athlete signing autographs and drawing media coverage.
"An important component of this thing is bringing kids on military bases together so they can meet someone new and maybe make a friend while learning the fundamentals of the great game of football," Huber said.
"When I was a tank driver in Europe (7th Cavalry, 1978-1982), I remember seeing youngsters on military bases with nothing to do and no friends because they had just moved into the area or the people they knew had just shipped out," he continued.
"It's one of the struggles of military life, and that memory makes these military camps really near and dear to my heart. It's exciting for me to come to places like this and spend a few hours with a bunch of kids who deserve moments in the spotlight. Everyone here feels the same way, to include Steve, and we all tend to sleep pretty good when we get back to the hotel after it's over."
Staff Sgt. Cornelius Harris, an Advanced Leader Course instructor at the Logistics Noncommissioned Officer Academy, said he clearly recognized the level of effort that was put into the camp.
"All of this is just awesome," he said. "Look at this crew of supporters and Steve Smith taking the time to come here and participate in the camp. It's all so inspirational because the whole night has been centered on our military children having fun and being appreciated. It really means a lot."
Social Sharing