Well, I haven't checked, but it's not like the Rockets org (nor Howard / Harden) are posting anything about this visit - in fact, the DoD (a bit weird that they have a twitter acc) is posting stuff about it.
The Rockets account posted about it. I see nothing wrong w/ it. They're doing it via the NBA's Hoops for Troops program, after all.
Well as a veteran I just want to thank them for taking the time to acknowledge the great sacrifice that these soldiers made for our country. I saw this posted on another site with the title"The Rockets are laying to rest all playoff hopes". I found it offensive and had it taken down and I look forward to seeing the Rockets prove some people very wrong in the very near future. Thanks for the post!
Of course it was arranged....and so are many other activities they take part of..and of course it's PR stuff....But thats part of the job. It's how they handle it that counts. We've all seen this group embrace the off court stuff, like during the holidays. This doesn't seem any different.
I hope you guys saying this was "PR" realize that people do this all the time. It's site seeing and touring. I've lived in DC and even I took pictures. Not just of Arlington but of other National Monuments, It's a famous place it's what you do. You know it's like... our capitol... lol. Also the Rockets are famous so when they go places guess who follows them?
Even if it's a PR thing, I'm sure they felt very emotional during the visit. I made the visit a few years back and it truly is sobering. Even if the intention was PR, I'm sure they walked away with a new sense of loyalty and respect. Regardless, there's so much bad **** on twitter and social media these days, what's wrong with throwing somethingin that's good? They can't be proper role models if no one sees the good that they do.
The Rockets are out doing team building activities. Prepping the team mentality for the playoffs. We will see if this works.
I'm proud of the Rockets for this. NBA’s Houston Rockets Visit Arlington Cemetery, Pentagon By Amaani Lyle DoD News, Defense Media Activity ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY, Va., March 28, 2015 – Crisp winds snapped across the sprawling grounds here today as members of the National Basketball Association’s Houston Rockets visited gravesites of fallen service members, met with an Army widow, and laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The Rockets face off against the Washington Wizards tomorrow. But the Houston team members opted to tour the cemetery and Pentagon today as part of “Commitment to Service,” the Defense Department’s partnership with the NBA. Jane Horton, whose husband, Army National Guard sniper Spc. Chris Horton, was killed in action in Afghanistan Sept. 9, 2011, led Rockets Head Coach Kevin McHale and his team throughout Arlington’s grounds, including her husband’s gravesite and the Memorial Amphitheater. Widow Recalls Husband’s Service, Sacrifice Horton, 28, told the team her husband was only 26 when he succumbed to enemy fire in Paktia province while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. “Even though my husband died at such a young age, he still had eight more years than so many buried here who died at age 18,” she said. “There was nothing more that Chris wanted to do than serve his country during wartime and unfortunately he was one of 2,215 that were killed in Afghanistan.” The significance of the setting seemed to resonate with the basketball team members who read gravestones belonging to service members close in age to the athletes. Former Boston Celtic McHale joined Rockets shooting guard James Harden and center Dwight Howard in the wreath-laying ceremony. “I think we’re all here because of the sacrifices people made not only over in the Middle East, but starting with World War I and World War II,” McHale said. “My father fought in World War II and so did my uncle so I’m very proud of their service.” ‘It’s a Great Honor and a Blessing to be Here’ Harden described his participation in the ceremony as “an amazing experience.” “I got to do something that the President does every year,” he said. “It’s a great honor and a blessing to be here.” Howard shared Harden’s sentiment, calling his visit an honor and humbling. “I’ve never experienced anything like this,” Howard said. “To be in the presence of these great people is amazing and it’s something I’ll never forget for the rest of my life.” Army Maj. Gen. Jeffrey S. Buchanan, commanding general, Joint Force Headquarters-National Capital Region/U.S. Army Military District of Washington, noted the precision and significance of the changing of the guard ritual that ensures the tomb is guarded 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, in any weather. Tomb Guard sentinels, all volunteers, are elite members of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) headquartered at Fort Myer, Virginia. (Follow Amaani Lyle on Twitter: @LyleDoDNews)
I used to live near D.C. and that was easily one of my favorite places to visit. Such a unique tribute to our country when you compare them to the others.
