SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, Hawaii - When the news came out that the National Football Leagure was returning to Hawaii for the 2011 Pro Bowl, I couldn't have been more excited.
Meeting the NFL mascots has been my ultimate goal and now I was going to get to meet them at the Play 60 event, here, Jan. 27.
As the weeks grew closer, I had a million questions for my Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation coworkers, like: "Would I get to meet the mascots'" "What would I say'" "Which mascots are coming'" "Will they like me'"
After weeks of waiting, the moment had arrived; I was standing beak-to- beak with Poe from the Baltimore Ravens! Then I turned my head and saw the Chicago Bears' mascot, Staley da Bear.
Those two guys took me under their wing (or paw, in Staley's case) and helped me be the best mascot I could be. At Play 60, the three of us led warm-ups for clinic participants, amused our fans, signed autographs, posed for pictures and became fast friends.
The next day, I attended the NFL Youth Education Town Legacy Luncheon. Held at Roy's Ko Olina, the luncheon helped raise funds for the NFL's Youth Education Town. Honolulu is the first site of a YET Center outside of a Super Bowl city.
I had an amazing job that day! I greeted guests, along with even more of my idols: Miles from the Denver Broncos, Pat from the New England Patriots and Sir Purr from the Carolina Panthers. I had so much fun seeing those mascots doing their thing! They even gave me a few tips on how to better entertain the Soldiers and families stationed in Hawaii.
Sir Purr tweeted me afterward that I did a "PAWesome" job - how cool is that'
And, each mascot autographed a Pro Bowl football to remind me of all the great fun I had and my new friends.
See more photos of of the NFL Play 60 at Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/usag-hi/sets/. Keep up with Eddie's announcements of upcoming DFMWR events at Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Eddie-the-Eagle-FMWR-Hawaii/126341760761235) and Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/FMWR_Eddie.
(Editor's Note: Eddie the Eagle is the official mascot of the U.S. Army Garrison-Hawaii Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation.)
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